-I 


- 


THE 


LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 


BY  REV.  N.   HERVEY. 


0 !  let  us  live  so  that  flower  by  flower, 
Shutting  in  turn,  may  leave 

A  lingerer  still  for  the  sunset  hour, 
A  charm  for  the  shaded  eve. 

Mas.  HEMANS. 


THIRD    EDITION. 

SALEM: 

PUBLISHED  BY  D.  B.  BROOKS  AND  BROTHER. 

BOSTON: 

JOHN   P.  JEWETT    AND    COMPANY. 
1856. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  In  the  year  1849,  by 

D.  BRAINERD  BROOKS, 
In  the  Cleric'*  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts 


Stereotyped    by 
HOB  ART   &    BOBBINS ; 

New  England  Type  and  Stereotype  Foundery, 
BOSTON. 


PREFACE. 


THE  design  of  the  writer,  in  this  little  vol- 
ume, is  to  lead  the  young  into  the  works  of 
nature,  and  from  thence  up  to  God.  In  explain- 
ing the  various  flowers,  we  have  aimed  to  make 
them  emblems  of  Christian  virtues.  The  lily, 
which  stands  prominent  among  flowers,  is  made 
an  emblem  of  the  Saviour,  in  whom  are  com- 
bined all  the  Christian  graces,  and  recommended 
to  the  attention  of  youth.  We  have  made  the 
fading  flower  emblematic  of  the  early  death 
of  children.  The  book  is  adapted  to  families, 
and  may,  with  profit  to  Sabbath-school  children, 
be  placed  in  their  libraries.  We  affectionately 
dedicate  the  volume  to  parents  and  children, 
1* 


2052925 


BEUOLD  the  lilies  of  the  field, 
In  thousand  colors  drest ; 

They  toil  not,  neither  do  they  spin, 
Yet  God  the  flowers  hath  blest. 

Then  toil  not  for  the  things  of  earth, 
But  seek  the  Lord  to  please ; 

For  Solomon,  in  all  his  pride, 
Was  not  arrayed  like  these. 


THE 


LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS, 


CHAPTER  I. 

MAY-DAY  had  passed  away,  and  the 
pleasant  month  of  June  had  almost 
opened  upon  us,  when  a  party  of  girls 
and  boys  came  running  from  their  school- 
room, and  passed  directly  by  my  door, 
when  my  curiosity  led  me  to  ask,  "Where 
are  you  going  ? "  "  We  are  going  into 
the  garden,"  says  one  of  them,  "  to 
gather  flowers."  "0,  no,"  says  one  of 
the  boys,  "  not  in  the  garden,  but  out  in 
the  fields."  "  Come,"  said  James,  "go 
with  us."  I  was  disposed  to  join  this 


10  THE   LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

pleasant  group  of  young  friends,  and 
readily  complied  with  their  request,  with 
the  hope  that  we  all  might  derive  instruc- 
tion from  the  flowers  which  adorn  our 
valleys  and  fields,  and  from  the  various 
scenes  in  nature. 

We  had  a  long  walk  to  take,  before 
coming  to  the  field  where  James  thought 
the  flowers  were  plenty.  But  there  was 
enough  around  us  to  make  our  walk  a 
pleasant  one.  On  either  side  of  the  road 
were  the  farmers  busily  tilling  the  soil, 
the  cattle  and  the  sheep  grazing  upon  the 
distant  hrlls ;  the  music  of  the  bright 
spring  birds  greeted  us  upon  the  wings 
of  the  passing  breeze,  and  the  verdant 
landscapes,  the  green  meadows,  and  the 
running  brooks,  all  conspired  to  fill  our 
hearts  with  joy  and  gratitude  to  the 
Author  of  all  good. 

"  There  are  many  persons,"  said  Mary, 
"who  take  no  interest  in  flowers,  and 
seem  to  have  no  taste  for  the  works  of 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  11 

nature."  That  is  true.  But  I  have  met 
with  a  great  many  people  who  really  love 
them,  who  look  upon  whatever  is  beau- 
tiful in  the  scenery  of  earth  with  the 
greatest  admiration.  "Yes,"  said  Anna, 
"  and  I  am  one  of  them.  I  do  love  to 
ramble  in  the  forest,  and  among  the  hills. 
I  think  I  could  live  in  a  garden." 

I  have  noticed  that  old  people  are  very 
fond  of  flowers  and  plants.  I  recollect, 
when  I  was  a  lad,  of  seeing  an  old  farm- 
house which  was  about  to  be  removed,  in 
order  to  give  place  for  a  new  and  elegant 
mansion.  The  old  house  was  occupied 
by  persons  who  were  born  in  it ;  and 
around  it  were  all  kinds  of  trees, — many 
of  them  were  old,  and  withering  away. 
In  front  of  the  house  was  a  large  garden, 
containing  a  variety  of  bushes,  and 
directly  in  its  centre  was  a  bed  of  flow- 
ers. When  the  old  house  was  removed, 
the  flowers  were  all  carefully  taken  up 
by  an  aged  lady  who  lived  there,  and 


12  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

who  transplanted  them  in  another  place, 
lest,  in  the  business  of  rebuilding,  some 
rude  hand  might  pluck  a  tender  bud,  or 
a  careless  foot  crush  a  choice  shoot. 
These  flowers  and  plants  had  been  ten- 
derly cultured  by  this  aged  lady.  Soon 
after  the  new  house  was  completed,  she 
was  taken  sick,  and  confined  to  her  room 
for  several  months.  She  was  fond  of  her 
children,  and  they  often  went  to  see  her ; 
and,  by  her  request,  they  would  go  out 
into  the"  garden,  and  gather  some  of  her 
favorite  flowers,  and  carry  them  to  her,  in 
the  room  where  she  was  confined  until  she 
died.  When  she  was  laid  in  the  coffin, 
her  grandchildren  gathered  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  choicest  flowers,  wove  them 
into  a  delicate  wreath,  and  laid  it  on  the 
coffin-lid ;  and  when  she  was  buried, 
they  adorned  her  grave  with  a  variety  of 
her  choice  flowers  and  plants,  placing  the 
white  lily  at  the  head. 

Now,  young  people  have  much  to  say 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  13 

about  flowers,  and  often  gather  them  as 
mementoes  for  their  friends,  and  for  fes- 
tival occasions ;  but  they  are  not  so  much 
interested  in  cultivating  them,  and  in 
watching  their  growth,  as  older  persons. 
When  you  ride  out  in  the  country,  you 
will  see  the  humble  farm-house,  and  in 
the  front  yard  of  the  lonely  cottage  a 
great  variety  of  flowers  ;  and  if  you  see 
among  them  the  marigold,  the  china- 
aster,  and  the  damask  rose,  you  may  be 
certain  old  people  live  there.  These  are 
called  old-fashioned  flowers,  and  are  the 
favorites  of  grandmothers. 

Young  people  are  generally  too  busy 
with  active  life  to  find,  leisure  for  trim- 
ming and  cultivating  a  flower-garden. 

"That  is  true,"  said  Sarah;  "there 
are  so  many  weeds  to  pull  up,  and  they 
have  to  be  watered  so  often.  It  re- 
quires some  patience,  and  much  time, 
also.  I  think  flowers  are  very  beautiful, 
arid  I  love  to  see  them,  and  go  out  in  the 


14  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

fields  and  gather  them ;  but,  I  must  con- 
fess, I  do  not  like  the  care  of  them." 
Does  your  mother  like  flowers,  Sarah  ? 


"  0,  yes,  she  is  very  fond  of  them. 
We  have  some  in  the  house,  and  mother 
takes  about  all  the  care  of  them.  She 
puts  them  in  the  sun,  and  then  in  the 
shade  ;  and  when  it  rains,  she  calls  us  to 
put  them  out  doors." 


THE  LILT  AMONG  FLOWERS.  15 

All  this  is  necessary  for  the  growth 
and  beauty  of  plants.  They  require  light 
and  shade,  heat  and  moisture.  And  I 
suppose  there  are  some  weeds  among 
them. 

"Yes,  but  not  so  many  as  grow  among 
the  flowers  in  the  garden.  And  mother 
says,  if  she  did  not  pull  up  the  weeds, 
the  flowers  would  not  grow,  nor  look  so 
beautiful." 

True,  my  child.  The  weeds  are  very 
injurious  to  plants.  You  remember  what 
the  Saviour  says,  in  the  parable  of  the 
sower,  about  the  seed  which  fell  among 
thorns ;  and  the  thorns  grew  with  the 
grain,  crowded  it,  and  choked  the  seed. 
Weeds  sometimes  grow  where  we  least 
suspect  them ;  and  hence  we  see  the 
importance  of  taking  care  of  the  flow- 
ers and  plants.  And  I  think  it  well  to 
have  them  in  the  house  and  in  the  gar- 
den, for  children  to  cultivate. 

"Why  so?"  said  little  Mary,  who 
2 


16  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

listened  to  our  conversation,   and  who 
would  know  my  reason. 

Because,  in  taking  care  of  them,  and 
seeing  them  gradually  develop  their  beau- 
ties, it  suggests  to  us  the  importance  of 
taking  care  of  ourselves.  If  we  do  not 
cultivate  our  own  hearts,  and  control  our 
evil  passions,  by  forming  Christian  prin- 
ciples, which  we  may  derive  from  the 
example  and  teachings  of  the  Saviour, 
our  hearts  will  become  as  the  soil  where 
the  weeds  grow  and  choke  the  plants. 
-  'One  of  the  little  boys,  who  joined  us 
in  our  walk,  looked  up,  with  his  bright 
eyes  and  smiling  face,  and  exclaimed, 
with  such  childlike  confidence  that  no 
one  could  doubt  what  he  said,  "  0, 
mother  takes  care  of  me  !" 

Yes,  my  little  boy ;  parents  have  to 
give  much  attention  to  their  children. 
And  it  is  a  blessing  to  have  such  parents 
as  will  watch  over  such  little  plants  as 
you  are,  and  see  that  the  weeds  do  not 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  17 

grow  in  your  hearts.  It  will  always  give 
them  pleasure  to  see  you  profit  by  their 
care  and  attention,  —  to  know  that  you 
cease  to  do  evil,  and  learn  to  do  well.  I 
will  repeat  a  few  lines  which  are  found 
among  the  poetical  fragments  of  Richard 
Baxter,  and  which  show  how  much  he 
felt  indebted  to  his  parents  for  their 
attention  to  him  when  a  boy. 

"  My  parents  here  thy  skilful  hand  did  plant, 
Free  from  the  snares  of  riches  and  of  want ; 
Their  tender  care  was  used  for  me  alone, 
Because  thy  providence  gave  to  them  but  one ; 
Their  early  precepts  so  possessed  my  heart, 
That,  taking  root,  they  did  not  thence  depart ; 
Thy  wisdom  so  contrived  my  education 
As  might  expose  me  to  the  least  temptation. 
Much  of  that  guilt  thy  mercy  did  prevent 
In  which  my  spring-time  I  should  else  have  spent" 

A  great  many  persons  have  felt  the 
importance  of  a  mother's  care,  in  after 
years,  when  they  have  left  their  pleasant 
homes,  and  gone  into  the  business  of  the 


18  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

world.  They  then  see  what  they  did 
not  think  was  of  so  much  importance, 
when  they  were  little  children. 

"  I  remember,"  said  Sarah,  "  of  hear- 
ing our  minister  tell  something  about  Mr. 
Cowper,  when  he  was  a  boy." 

Well,  let  me  see  how  much  you  can 
remember  of  what  he  said ;  for  Mr.  Cow- 
per was  an  excellent  man,  as  well  as  a 
distinguished  poet ;  and  his  experience 
very  happily  illustrates  the  influence  of  a 
mother's  care. 

"  He  said  that  when  he  was  a  little 
boy  his  mother  used  to  wrap  him  up  in  a 
scarlet  mantle,  and  send  him  away  to 
school ;  and  would  teach  him  herself,  and 
would  go  into  his  chamber,  after  he  went 
to  bed,  every  night,  to  see  if  he  was  safe 
and  warm.  And  that  she  taught  him 
many  good  lessons." 

Yes,  Sarah,  and  her  manners  and 
treatment  to  him  made  impressions  on 
his  mind  which  all  the  dark  scenes  and 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 


19 


mental  depressions  of  his  life  never  effaced 
from  his  memory.  He  recalls,  in  the 
later  years  of  his  life,  those  precious  days 
of  his  childhood,  in  a  poem,  which  he 
composed  when  over  fifty  years  of  age. 
And  you  may  have  occasion  to  remember 


the  kind  attention  and  good  instructions 
of  your  parents,  should  you  outlive  them, 
when  they  are  laid  in  the  grave.  And 

2* 


20  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

if  you  do  not  give  heed  to  their  instruc- 
tions now,  it  will  cause  you  painful  reflec- 
tions then. 

"Will  you  tell  us,"  said  James,  "what 
those  lines  are,  in  Mr.  Cowper's  poem?" 

I  will  try  and  repeat  them. 

"  Tis  now  become  a  history  little  known, 
That  once  we  called  the  pastoral  house  our  own. 
Short-lived  possession !  but  the  record  fair 
That  memory  keeps,  of  all  thy  kindness  there, 
Still  outlives  many  a  storm  that  has  effaced 
A  thousand  other  themes,  less  deeply  traced. 
Thy  nightly  visits  to  my  chamber  made, 
That  thou  might'st  know  me  safe  and  warmly  kid , 
Thy  morning  bounties,  ere  I  left  my  home, — 
The  biscuit  or  confectionary  plum;  — 
The  fragrant  waters  on  my  cheek  bestowed 
By  thy  own  hand,  till  fresh  they  shone  and  glowed; 
All  this,  and,  more  endearing  still  than  all, 
Thy  constant  ilow  of  love,  that  knew  no  fall ; 
All  this,  still  legible  in  memory's  page, 
And  still  to  be  so,  till  my  latest  age, 
Adds  joy  to  duty,  makes  me  glad  to  pay 
Such  honors  to  thee  as  my  numbers  may ; 
Perhaps  a  frail  memorial,  but  sincere, 
Not  scorned  in  heaven,  though  little  noticed  here." 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  21 

Mr.  Cowper's  mother  took  good  care 
of  him,  when  a  little  boy  ;  and  you  can- 
not be  too  thankful,  my  children,  for  your 
good  mothers.  Children  are  in  danger 
of  forgetting  the  most  important  lessons 
which  they  receive  in  their  early  days. 
But  it  was  not  so  with  Mr.  Cowper.  One 
incident  in  his  life  will  prove  it.  On 
receiving  a  copy  of  his  mother's  likeness 
from  his  cousin,  Mrs.  Bodham,  at  the 
age  of  fifty- eight,  he  sent  a  letter  of 
thanks  to  the  donor,  in  which  he  says, 
"  I  placed  it  where  it  is  the  last  object 
that  I  see  at  night,  and,  of  oourse,  the 
first  on  which  I  open  my  eyes  in  the 
morning.  The  portrait  I  had  rather  pos- 
sess than  the  richest  jewel  in  the  British 
crown,  for  I  loved  her  with  an  affection 
that  her  death,  fifty-two  years  ago,  has 
not  in  the  least  abated.  I  remember, 
too,  a  multitude  of  the  maternal  tender- 
nesses which  I  received  from  her,  and 


22  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

which  endeared  her  memory  to  me  beyond 
expression." 

It  is  also  true  that  good  parents  cher- 
ish a  very  warm  attachment  towards  their 
children,  and  it  always  affords  them  the 
greatest  happiness  to  see  their  children 
walking  in  wisdom's  ways, — kind,  duti- 
ful, and  obedient. 

"0,  yes,"  said  Charlotte;  "mother 
is  always  doing  something  for  us,  and 
often  talks  to  us  about  being  good  chil- 
dren. She  was  talking  to  us  the  other 
day,  and  I  remember  she  said,  that,  if 
she  was  taken  away  from  us,  she  wanted 
us  to  be  able  to  say  that  she  endeavored 
to  give  us  a  right  education." 

And,  Charlotte,  if  you  should  die 
before  your  parents,  would  it  not  give 
you  pleasure  to  be  able  to  say  that  you 
were  always  obedient  to  their  advice  ? 

"0,  yes,  I  think  it  would  give  me 
pain,  if  I  should  be  the  cause  of  any  un- 
happiness  to  my  parents." 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  23 

Parents  derive  much  consolation,  in  the 
loss  of  their  children,  to  know  that,  while 
they  were  living,  they  improved  under 
their  moral  and  religious  instruction. 
Parents  feel  more  tenderly  the  loss  of 
good  children.  Yet  they  have  one  thought 
to  console  them, — the  thought  that  such 
children  are  safe  in  heaven. 

You  know  Mrs.  Gr.  has  buried  a  num- 
ber of  children.  I  remember  visiting  the 
family  soon  afterwards.  As  I  entered 
the  room,  she  was  watering  some  flowers 
that  were  drooping,  and  arranging  them 
in  one  part  of  the  room,  so  that  they 
might  receive  the  requisite  light  and 
shade.  She  had  evidently  been  weep- 
ing. It  was  just  three  weeks  since  she 
had  laid  the  last  "  olive-plant"  of  her 
own  family  in  the  silent  tomb.  She  had 
taken  much  care  of  her  children,  and 
when  they  were  sick  she  was  with  them 
most  of  the  time,  and  watched  over  them 
both  night  and  day,  with  the  hope  that 


24  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

God  would  spare  them  to  her  yet  longer. 
But,  with  all  her  care  and  attention^ 
they  were  taken  away.  Yes,  her  little 
plants  were  removed  to  a  more  congenial 
soil,  where  they  will  bloom  in  fresh 
beauty  and  unfading  virtue.  Our  con- 
versation turned  upon  the  flowers,  when 
I  remarked,  "  They  require  some  atten- 
tion ;"  to  which  she  replied,  "Yes,  and 
these  flowers  often  remind  me  of  my  dear 
children  ;  and  I  love  to  cultivate  them, 
because  they  bring  to  my  memory  those 
days  in  which  I  took  so  much  pleasure 
in  cultivating  their  minds,  and  in  teach- 
ing them  to  be  good  children." 

"How  true  it  is,"  said  Charlotte,  as 
she  plucked  a  flower  that  was  just  begin- 
ning to  droop,  "how  true  it  is  that  flow- 
ers fade,  and  their  leaves  fall!" 

A  true  emblem,  Charlotte,  of  departed 
joys  and  blighted  hopes.  They  may  be 
viewed  as  very  appropriate  emblems  of 
youth  and  beauty  in  their  new-flushed 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  25 

bloom,  their  deep  verdure,  and  copious 
fragrance.  How  many  fair  children,  like 
these  spring  flowers,  just  begin  to  live, 
and  then  fade  and  die  !  I  think  we 
should  learn  a  lesson  from  these  transient 
decorations  of  earth,  to  improve  the 
spring-time  of  life.  By  so  doing,  we 
shall  be  prepared  for  an  early  grave  or  a 
good  old  age. 

It  is  time  for  us  to  return.  See,  the 
sun  has  almost  set!  "  I  should  like  to 
come  out  here  in  the  morning,"  said 
Sarah.  "  It  will  be  beautiful,"  said 
Charlotte,  "  to  see  the  sun  rise  from  this 
hill."  All  expressed  the  same  desire. 
And,  should  time  permit,  we  will  go 
down  in  the  valley,  where  we  may  find 
some  new  flowers. 

"  I  will  be  up  'bright  and  early,'" 
said  little  James,  as  he  ran  down  the 
hill.  Yes,  we  must  start  early,  children, 
and  let  us  all  resolve,  "early  to  bed,  and 
early  to  rise."  The  time  is  fixed, — 


26  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

before  sunrise.  Awake  with  the  morn- 
ing lark,  and  we  shall  hear  the  birds  sing, 
and  breathe  the  healthy  air.  Remem- 
ber the  time,  children. 

"  Best  wishes  attend  you, 

Good  children  and  fair  ; 
Kind  angels  defend  you, 
And  keep  you  with  care." 

Away  they  started  to  their  respective 
homes,  leaving  me  alone  to  my  own 
reflections.  Surely  there,  is  something 
interesting  in  children,  as  well  as  in 
flowers.  They  exhibit  truly  a  love  for 
the  works  of  nature.  To  excite  and  cul- 
tivate this  disposition  in  their  minds  is 
certainly  an  important  part  of  the  pa- 
rental office.  God  has  made  everything 
beautiful  in  its  place  and  season,  and 
given  to  each  part  of  his  works  its  spe- 
cific use.  Changes  are  perpetually  tak- 
ing place,  throughout  all  his  handiwork, 
and  yet  complete  order  and  regularity 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  27 

pervade  the  whole.  There  is  sympathy, 
harmony  and  proportion,  everywhere  vis- 
ible throughout  the  universe  of  God,  and 
even  in  the  smallest  objects  are  seen  his 
matchless  wisdom  and  goodness.  Here 
children  may  learn  valuable  instruction, 
by  directing  their  attention  to  the  won- 
derful productions  of  nature.  The  laws 
by  which  heavenly  bodies  are  governed, 
the  peculiar  structure  of  the  globe,  the 
germination  of  the  seed,  the  vegetation 
of  the  plants,  the  industry  of  the  ant,  the 
skill  and  labor  of  the  bee,  the  instinct 
and  affection  of  birds,  in  building  their 
nests  and  in  taking  care  of  their  young, 
— all  have  a  powerful  influence  upon  the 
youthful  mind. 

Parents  should  often  walk  with  their 
children,  and  admire  with  them  the  works 
of  their  Creator,  and  teach  them  to  be 
familiar  with  the  operations  of  nature, 
and  also  teach  them  that  they  derive  their 
highest  enjoyment  from  a  filial  confidence 


28  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

in  him  who  covers  the  earth  with  beauty, 
and  fills  the  air  with  fragrance.  Young 
minds  are  always  open  to  impressions 
from  "  things  in  heaven,  or  things  on 
earth,  or  things  under  the  earth ;"  and  as 
the  seasons  roll  on,  unfolding  their  innu- 
merable blessings,  the  productions  of  the 
Almighty  hand  are  ever  imparting  in- 
struction to  the  reflecting  mind,  and  cre- 
ating new  delight. 

"Still  all  are  under  one.     One  Spirit, — Him 
Who  rules  universal  nature.     Not  a  flower 
But  shows  some  touch,  in  freckle,  streak,  or  stain, 
Of  his  unrivalled  pencil. 

*  *  *  #  * 

His  presence,  who  made  all  so  fair,  perceived, 
Makes  all  still  fairer.  As  with  him  no  scene 
Is  dreary,  so  with  him  all  seasons  please." 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE  morning  light  just  began  to  peep 
into  my  chamber,  when  the  voices  of 
children  without  reminded  me  of  the 
time  fixed  for  an  early  ramble.  In  a 
few  minutes  we  were  all  together,  and 
on  our  way  to  the  hills  and  valleys.  Our 
number  had  increased.  The  village  chil- 
dren had  heard  of  the  proposal  for  a 
morning  walk,  and  several  of  them  joined 
our  party,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all. 

It  was  a  fine  morning,  and  we  were  in 
season  to  see  all  nature  waking  up.  The 
deep  blue  sky  was  lighted  up  with  the 
dawn  of  day ;  the  trees  waved  in  the 
gentle  breeze,  and  the  little  birds  saluted 
us  with  their  morning  songs.  I  could 
not  but  sympathize  with  the  sentiment 
of  an  English  author :  "  How  charming 
to  rove  abroad  at  this  sweet  hour  of 


30  THE  LILT  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

prime,  to  enjoy  the  calm  of  nature,  to 
tread  the  dewy  lawns,  and  taste  the 
unrivalled  freshness  of  the  air. 

1  Sweet  is  the  breath  of  morn ;  her  rising  sweet 
With  charm  of  earliest  birds.'  " 

When  we  arise  in  the  morning,  chil- 
dren, and  look  out  upon  the  beauties  of 
nature,  and  snuff  the  mellow  air,  we 
should  not  forget  to  look  upward.  There 
is  one  who  draws  around  us  the  curtain 
of  darkness,  so  that  we  may  enjoy  that 
quiet  repose  which  is  necessary  to  the 
health  of  both  the  body  and  mind,  and 
who  also  maketh  the  outgoings  of  the 
evening  and  the  morning  to  rejoice.  To 
him  we  should  render  thanks  for  his  kind 
protection,  and  for  his  wise  division  of 
time  into  day  and  night.  When  a  boy,  I 
learned  a  hymn,  which  I  often  repeated. 
Perhaps  you  may  know  it.  Little  Anna 
repeated  the  whole  of  it.  The  first  verse 
is  this: 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  31 

"  Lord,  in  the  morning  thou  shalt  hear 

My  voice  ascending  high. 

To  thee  will  I  direct  my  prayer, 

To  thee  lift  up  mine  eye." 

Now,  children,  time  with  us  is  short. 
We  must  make  the  most  of  it,  this  morn- 
ing. Flowers  and  plants  appear  to  us 
different  from  what  they  did  last  even- 
ing. This  morning  they  are  all  covered 
with  little  drops  of  dew ;  and,  as  soon 
as  the  sun  shines  on  them,  they  will 
sparkle  like  so  many  liquid  crystals. 

"  0,  come  up  here,"  said  James, 
standing  on  the  top  of  a  hill.  We  hast- 
ened to  the  call,  and  were  presented  with 
a  beautiful  scene.  A  valley  spread  be- 
fore us,  toward  the  east.  In  the  dis- 
tance, between  the  hills  which  skirted  it 
on  either  side,  appeared  the  sun,  shed- 
ding his  rays  upon  the  dewy  meadow. 
It  appeared  as  though  it  were  covered 
with  a  silver  mantle. 

"  The  dew  will  soon  be  gone,"  said 
3* 


32  THE  LILT  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

little  Anna.  Yes,  my  child.  But  the 
dew  is  a  benefit  to  vegetation.  While 
the  sun  is  up,  during  the  day,  plants  and 
flowers  are  constantly  drying  ;  and  if 
there  were  no  moisture  imparted  to  them 
during  the  night,  they  would  not  live  so 
long  as  they  do. 

"I  see,"  said  Anna,  "why  mother 
waters  her  flowers." 

The  dew  answers  all  the  purposes  of 
the  watering-pot.  If  there  were  no 
moisture  to  the  earth,  plants  would  not 
grow,  gardens  would  not  bloom,  trees 
would  not  put  forth  their  tender  leaves, 
nor  appear  in  their  beautiful  foliage.  The 
meadows  would  not  look  so  green,  nor 
the  earth  yield  us  its  wholesome  food. 
And -if  the  earth  had  all  the  moisture  it 
now  has,  and  were  deprived  of  heat  and 
light,  the  result  would  be  the  same. 
No  longer  would  the  fig-tree  blossom, 
nor  fruit  be  in  the  vine  ;  the  labor  of  the 
olive  would  fail,  and  the  fields  could  yield 


THE  LILY  AMONG   FLOWERS. 


33 


no  meat.  The  flocks  must  be  cut  off 
from  the  folds,  and  there  would  be  no 
herd  in  the  stalls. 

The  sun  is  a  great  blessing  to  the  vege- 
table and  animal  world,  as  well  as  to  our- 
selves. The  thousands  of  insects  which 
are  now  awake,  and  the  birds  which  are 
singing  their  morning  songs,  and  the 
sheep  which  feed  on  the  hills,  and  the 
cattle  which  graze  in  the  pasture,  would 
mourn  for  the  light  and  heat  of  the  sun. 


It  is  through  this  means,  together  with 
the  rain  and  dew,  which  gently  distils  on 


84  THE  LILT  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

the  grass,  that  we  are  supplied  with  the 
blessings  of  vegetation,  and  which  causes 
the  farmer  to  rejoice,  as  he  gathers  in  his 
harvest. 

There  are  two  titles  by  which  the 
Saviour  is  called  in  the  Scriptures.  Can 
you  tell  me,  Charlotte,  what  they  are  ? 
"  There  are  a  number  of  titles  applied 
to  him  ;  but  I  suppose  you  refer  to  those 
where  he  is  figuratively  called  '  The  Sun 
of  Righteousness,'  and  '  The  Day  Spring 
from  on  high.'  " 

Yes,  you  have  answered  correctly. 
And  you  all  perceive  the  beauty  of  the 
similitude.  As  the  sun  rises  and  shines 
on  every  hill  and  vale,  and  in  every 
direction,  illuminating  the  whole  earth, 
so  the  Saviour  is  called  "  The  Light  of 
men."  And  if  you  receive  his  teach- 
ings, and  obey  them,  he  will  be  your 
Light  and  Sun. 

There  is  another  Scripture  title  by 
which  he  is  called ;  perhaps  you  will  be 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  35 

able  to  tell  me,  when  I  say  I  do  not  mean 
the  Rose  of  Sharon.  "  0,  yes,"  said 
Sarah ;  "  it  is  the  «  Lily  of  the  Valley.' " 

That  is  right ;  there  are  lilies  among 
flowers.  Can  you  tell  me  how  many 
kinds  of  lilies  there  are  ?. 

"There  is  the  tiger  lily,  the  water  lily, 
the  white  lily,  and  the  lily  of  the  valley." 

The  latter  is  the  kind,  I  suppose,  the 
Saviour  referred  to,  when  he  said,  "  Con- 
sider the  lilies  of  the  field."  You  are 
aware,  children,  how  much  the  Saviour 
conversed  with  the  works  of  nature  while 
he  was  on  earth,  and  how  plain  he  made 
his  teachings,  by  familiar  illustrations, 
from  the  scenes  around  him.  He  taught 
many  truths  by  parables,  and  "  the  com- 
mon people  heard  him  gladly."  Noth- 
ing in  the  works  of  nature  escaped  his 
notice,  from  the  shining  sun  and  falling 
rain,  to  the  lilies  of  the  field  and  the 
I  birds  of  the  air.  He  appears  familiar 
with  all  the  operations  of  husbandry.  To 


36  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

him  the  lily,  in  its  native  bed,  possessed 
a  beauty,  in  its  outward  adorning,  far 
superior  to  all  the  glory  of  Solomon, 
when  arrayed  in  his  kingly  apparel* 

There  were,  undoubtedly,  other  flow- 
ers of  the  field  which  the  Saviour  con- 
sidered equally  worthy  of  his  notice.  But 
he  selected  the  lily  as  a  specimen  of  the 
care  of  our  heavenly  Father,  and  to  guard 
the  minds  of  his  disciples  against  too 
much  anxiety  in  their  temporal  affairs. 
"See,  it  toils  not;"  and  yet  it  grows, 
expanding  its  leaves,  and  filling  the  air 
with  its  sweetest  fragrance. 

"  I  think  the  lily  must  be  an  emblem 
of  many  things,"  said  Charlotte.  "There 
is  a  book  called  the  Language  of  Flowers, 
in  which  every  flower  is  made  to  repre- 
sent some  moral  sentiment." 

"  But  flowers  do  not  speak,"  said  lit- 
tie  Anna. 

Yes,  my  child,  flowers  have  voices, 
which  silently  speak  to  us  ;  and  I  think 


THE   LILT  AMONG  FLOWERS.  37 

we  shall  find  the  lily  speaks  a  great  many 
things.     I  will  explain  to  you,  directly. 
As  you  referred,  Charlotte,  to  the  Lan- 
guage of  Flowers,  will  you  tell  us  the 
meaning  of  the  lily  ? 


"  Yes.  The  white  lily  signifies  purity 
and  sweetness.  The  lily  of  the  valley, 
delicate  simplicity  ;  and  the  water  lily, 
eloquence.  A  lady  has  written  a  few  lines 
on  the  latter,  which  I  remember. 

•  '  It  welleth  up  from  brimming  founts, 
Deep  hidden  in  the  soul ; 


38  THE  LILY  AMOUG  FLOWERS. 

And,  with  a  strong,  resistless  power, 
Its  chainless  waters  roll. 

'  It  gushes  out  in  words  of  fire, 
It  scorches  with  its  breath ; 
And,  as  the  heart  is  pure  or  dark, 
Its  words  are  life  or  death."  " 

The  lily  of  the  valley  is  a  beautiful 
flower,  but  of  short  duration.  It  will 
soon  fade  and  wither  in  the  light  and 
heat,  when  taken  from  its  native  soil. 
It  may  well  be  called  delicate  simplicity. 
Its  delicate  whiteness  excels  the  finest 
painting  of  the  most  skilful  artist. 

We  may  all  learn  lessons  from  the 
Saviour's  illustration  of  God's  goodness 
and  care,  by  the  lilies  of  the  field.  He 
causes  them  to  grow,  and  clothes  them 
with  an  appropriate  dress ;  wrapping 
around  them  an  outer  garment,  that  they 
may  be  guarded  against  rude  blasts  and 
chilling  winds.  And  if  he  clothe  the  lily 
in  its  beautiful  dress,  and  feed  the  birds 
which  sing  in  the  air,  will  he  not  clothe 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  39 

us  ?  The  lily  has  life,  but  it  is  not  im- 
bued with  immortality.  It  fades  and 
dies,  and  mingles  with  the  earth.  But 
"  man  is  the  noblest  work  of  God."  And 
if  he  take  such  tender  care  of  the  simple 
flowers,  which  spring  up  and  bloom  for  a 
short  time  only,  certainly  he  will  provide 
for  that  which  is  of  more  value.  "  Ho 
carcth  for  you  ;"  he  knows  all  your  wants. 
"lie  openeth  his  hand  wide  unto  tho 
poor  and  needy,"  and  provideth  for  every 
living  thing  which  he  hath  made.  IIo 
dispenses  our  blessings,  not  accidentally, 
but  for  our  good. 

"  I  see,"  said  Sarah,  "  what  is  meant 
by  the  illustration.  God  takes  care  of 
the  birds,  and  clothes  the  lilies  with  their 
beautiful  colors  ;  but  he  has  not  put  his 
Spirit  in  them.  They  soon  perish,  and 
mingle  with  the  dust  again.  And  since 
he  adorns  the  lily,  and  feeds  the  birds, 
and  clothes  the  grass  of  the  field,  he  will 
4 


40  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

certainly  provide  for  us,  and  give  us  food 
for  our  comfort." 

Yes,  that  is  the  lesson  he  would  have 
us  remember. 

"  And  do  you  not  think,"  inquired 
Charlotte,  "  that  the  lily  is  an  emblem 
of  the  Saviour  ? ' ' 

It  is,  certainly,  a  faint  image  of  his 
character ;  but  it  will  help  our  concep- 
tions of  his  meek,  lovely,  and  pure  spirit; 
and,  so  far  as  we  possess  the  same  mind 
which  was  in  him,  and  cultivate  in  our 
hearts  and  lives  the  same  graces  which 
were  developed  in  Christ,  shall  we  be 
conformed  to  his  image.  There  is  a  pas- 
sage in  Solomon's  Songs  which  expresses 
the  situation  of  the  Christian  in  this 
world,  and  shows  how  he  values  them : 
"As  the  lily  among  thorns,  so  is  my  love 
among  the  daughters." 

"  I  never  knew  what  that  meant,  be- 
fore," said  Sarah;  -'and  I  wish  you 
would  explain  the  other  part,  where  it 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  41 

speaks  of  going  down  into  the  garden  to 
gather  lilies." 

I  shall  refer  you  to  it  another  time,  aa 
I  shall  want  to  occupy  more  time  than 
we  shall  have  this  morning,  in  telling  you 
about  some  families  with  whom  I  am 
acquainted,  who  have  lost  some  lilies, 
which  were  planted  in  their  gardens. 

What  we  have  said  respecting  the  lily, 
as  an  emblem  of  God's  care  and  good- 
ness, may  also  be  said  of  all  his  works. 
They  all  praise  him ;  and  are  distin- 
guished from  the  works  of  art  in  their 
beauty  and  perfection.  By  the  aid  of 
the  microscope,  you  will  see  very  dis- 
tinctly all  the  proportions  of  a  single 
flower.  An  artificial  flower  looks  very 
well  at  a  distance  ;  but  when  you  bring 
it  near  the  eye,  and  compare  it  with  one 
of  these  field  flowers,  you  will  immedi- 
ately perceive  the  difference.  It  lacks 
the  life  of  the  opening  bud  and  blossom, 
— the  freshness,  color,  and  fragrance,  of 


42  THE  LILV  AMON0  FLOWERS. 

a  natural  one.  And  when  you  look  at 
the  former,  you  sec  displayed  the  inge- 
nuity of  man,  and  regard  it  as  his  work  ; 
but  when  you  pluck  the  flowers  which 
adorn  the  earth,  or  gather  lilies  from  the 
vales,  you  may,  with  filial  confidence, 
say,  "  My  Father  made  them  all." 

Flowers  not  only  please  the  senses, 
but  they  instruct  the  mind.  Every  plant 
which  shoots  up  from  the  bosom  of  the 
earth  speaks  forth  ''the  manifold  wisdom 
of  God."  Even  the  most  fragile  floAver 
which  we  crash  under  our  feet  affords 
the  same  evidence  of  his  perfections  as 
the  stars  which  twinkle  in  the  sky,  or  the 
moon  which  shines  in  silver  bright.  ' '  The 
name  of  God  is  whispered  in  the  wind, 
woven  in  the  leaves,  crystallized  in  rocks, 
and  written  in  flowers." 

"  You  remind  me,"  said  Charlotte, 
"  of  some  lines  of  poetry  which  I  learned 
some  time  ago." 

And  will  you  repeat  them,  Charlotte  ? 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  43 

"  The  just  Creator  condescends  to  write 
In  beams  of  inextinguishable  light, 
His  names  of  goodness,  power,  and  love, 
On  all  that  blooms  below  or  shines  above." 

"And  I  can  say  some  verses  -which 
my  mother  taught  me,"  said  little  Anna. 

"God  is  in  the  torrent's  fall, 

God  is  in  the  summer  breeze, 
God  is  in  the  thunder's  call, 
God  is  in  the  whispering  trees. 

"Where  the  lowly  violet  springs, 
Where  the  faithful  ivy  clings, 
Where  the  small  bird  sweetly  sings, 
There,  forever  there,  is  God." 

Yes,  children,  although  flowers  which 
ornament  the  earth,  and  serve  as  an  extra 
source  of  delight  to  our  senses,  and  which 
unfold  their  beauties  to  us  for  a  short 
time  only,  yet  require  the  same  power  to 
produce  them  and  make  them  bloom  as 
it  does  to  create  a  world.  Man  has  not 
this  power.  You  see  the  noble  ship 
4* 


44 


THE   LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 


which  sails  upon  the  waters,  and  outrides 
in  many  instances,  the  stormy  ocean 
That  is  built  by  man. 


He  goes  into  the 


'forest,  and  cuts  down  the  large  trees, 
hews  out  timber  from  them,  and  puts  it 
together  in  a  shape  adapted  to  float  on 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  45 

the  water.  He  erects  the  masts,  puts  on 
the  rigging  and  blocks,  cuts  the  sails, 
and  furls  them  to  the  spars.  And  when 
the  sails  are  spread,  and  the  noble  ship 
moves  gracefully  on  the  water?,  or  ploughs 
the  ocean,  with  her  heavy  and  valuable 
cargo,  she  then  appears  a  proud  monu- 
ment of  the  human  mind.  But  the  same 
persons  who  built  that  vessel  could  not 
produce  one  of  the  smallest  of  these  flow- 
ers, nor  grow  a  single  spire  of  grass. 

Look  here,  children,  and  see  the  deli- 
cate mechanism  which  is  displayed  in 
this  one  flower.  We  will  take  it  all 
apart,  and  examine  it  carefully.  You 
see  how  wisely  it  is  planned.  Observe 
the  shape  of  the  leaves,  and  the  beauti- 
ful red  color,  gradually  fading,  down  to 
the  petal,  to  a  light  yellow.  See  how 
perfectly  the  leaves  all  taper  to  a  single 
point,  and  meet  around  the  stem,  each 
leaf  moulded  into  its  socket.  There  they 
derive  support,  and  mutually  grow  to- 


46  THE  LILY  AMONO,  FLOWERS. 

gether.  The  edge  of  each  leaf  is  nicely 
scolloped,  and  in  the  delicate  bosom  of 
the  flower  is  deposited  the  spark  of  vege- 
table life.  What  workman  could  con- 
struct so  perfectly  ?  Where  is  the  paint- 
er who  could  arrange  so  finely  the  deli- 
cate shades  of  each  leaf?  Or  who  could 
fill  its  little  cells  so  regularly,  every  day, 
with  the  delightful  odor  which  makes  fra- 
grant the  atmosphere  around  us  ? 

James,  who  had  been  listening  with 
much  interest  to  my  questions,  and  exam- 
ining the  various  parts  of  the  flower, 
looked  up,  with  a  smiling  countenance, 
and  promptly  answered,  "  God." 

Here  we  have  the  flower  all  in  pieces. 
Now,  children,  take  the  leaves,  petals, 
and  stem,  to  the  man  who  builds  the 
noble  ship,  and  ask  him  if  he  can  put  the 
flower  together,  as  it  was  before  we  ex- 
amined it ;  and  he  will  tell  you  that  he 
has  not  the  power,  nor  can  he  cause  one 
like  it  to  grow.  The  mind  of  man  may 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  47 

copy  the  works  of  nature,  but  the  infmito 
mind  only  can  create  them. 

"I  see  very  clearly,"  said  Sarah, 
"  that  the  works  of  nature  do  not  como 
to  us  by  chance.  They  certainly  indi- 
cate thought  and  design." 

What  argument  can  you  present  to 
prove  it? 

"  Why,  this.  Last  May-day  I  made 
up  a  wreath  of  artificial  flowers.  I  spent 
some  time  in  cutting  out  the  paper  flow- 
ers, and  I  know  I  thought  and  planned  in 
arranging  the  leaves,  and  in  putting  them 
in  the  right  place  upon  the  wire  stem." 

Yes,  that  is  a  very  good  illustration ; 
and  you  might  also  see  that  it  requires 
much  time,  thought,  and  patience,  for  a 
man  to  learn  how  to  build  a  ship,  or  con- 
struct the  houses  we  live  in.  And  wo 
might  say,  with  as  much  propriety,  that 
the  ship  was  built  and  sails  by  chance, 
or  that  our  houses  come  to  us  by  chance, 
as  to  say  these  flowers  grow  without  an 


48  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

intelligent  cause.  We  may  truly  say, 
"0  Lord,  how  manifold  are  thy  works! 
in  wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all." 
The  Lord  by  wisdom  hath  founded  the 
earth  ;  by  understanding  hath'  he  estab- 
lished the  heavens.  By  his  knowledge 
the  depths  are  broken  up,  and  the  clouds 
drop  down  the  dew.  He  that  built  all 
things  is  God." 

It  is  time,  children,  for  us  to  return. 
"  0,  yes,"  said  one  of  the  little  boys; 
/'  mother  told  us  to  be  sure  and  be  at 
home  in  season." 

This  afternoon  we  will  meet  again. 
"  Certainly,"  said  Mary  ;  for  I  just  be- 
gin to  feel  an  interest  in  the  flowers.  I 
always  thought  them  to  be  very  beauti- 
ful, but  I  see  they  contain  much  instruc- 
tion." 

So  we  meet  again  after  school ;  and, 
as  you  are  going  home  to  your  mothers, 
take  with  you  a  few  of  these  wild-flow- 
ers. They  will  receive  them  as  an  evi- 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  49 

dence  of  your  affection,  and  it  will  show 
that  you  do  not  forget  them  when  absent 
from  home.  So  I  leave  you,  with  a  ques- 
tion and  an  answer  : 


Why  do  flowers  bloom,  mother  ? 

Why  do  the  sweet  flowers  bloom  ? 
And  brightest  those  we  reared,  mother, 

Around  my  brother's  tomb  ? 


To  fill  the  world  with  gladness, 
My  child,  were  flowers  given ; 

To  crown  the  earth  with  beauty, 
And  lift  our  thoughts  to  heaven. 


CHAPTER    III. 

WELL,  children,  we  meet  again.  A 
lovely  afternoon  it  is,  —  flowers  in  abun- 
dance. No  wonder  they  have  attracted 
the  attention  of  persons  in  all  nges  of  tho 
world.  Flowers,  undoubtedly,  bloomed 
with  rare  and  exquisite  beauty  in  tho 
garden  of  Eden  ;  and  ever  since  then, 
they  have  appeared  in  the  balmy  spring, 
to  give  life  and  beauty  to  the  earth. 

What  sort  of  a  flower  is  that,  Anna, 
which  you  have  in  your  hand  ? 

"It  is  a  wind-flower,  and  it  means 
anticipation." 

A  very  appropriate  meaning,  indeed, 
for  I  have  anticipated  this  ramble  to-day 
with  much  pleasure. 

I  have  often  thought,  children,  what  a 
great  variety  of  flowers  there  are.  Every 
species  is  formed  on  a  separate  plan,  and 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  51 

exhibits  something  entirely  new.  Every 
class  has  an  appearance  of  its  own,  which 
is  truly  original.  I  think  this  variety  is 
very  well  expressed  by  the  author  of  Re- 
flections on  the  Flower  Garden.  "There 
is  an  apparent  difference,  as  well  as 
peculiar  delicacy,  in  the  airs  and  liabils, 
the  attitude  and  lineaments,  cf  every  dis- 
tinct class.  Some  rear  their  heads,  and 
overlook  the  whole  parterre.  Others 
seem  more  moderate  in  their  aims,  and 
advance  only  to  the  middle  stations, 
which  might  be  termed  the  gentry  of  the 
border  ;  while  others,  free  from  all  aspir- 
ing views,  creep  upon  the  ground,  and 
look  like  the  commonalty  of  the  kind. 
Some  are  intersected  with  elegant  stripes, 
or  studded  with  radiant  spots.  Sjme. 
affect  to  be  genteelly  powdered  or  neatly 
fringed,  while  others  are  plain  in  their 
aspect,  unaffected  in  their  dress.  Some 
assume  the  monarch's  purple,  some  look 
most  becoming  in  the  virgin's  white ; 
5 


62  THE  LILY  AMO&G  FLOWERS. 

bat  black,  doleful  black,  has  no  place  in 
the  wardrobe  of  spring." 

Flowers  also  appear  in  regular  succes- 
sion ;  so  that  we  have  them,  in  all  their 
variety  of  colors,  through  all  seasons  of 
the  year,  —  each  class  in  its  appropriate 
season, 

"To  the  heart  inspiring 
Vernal  delight  and  joy." 


No  one  need  be  sad,  amid  the  crea- 
tion of  blooming  flowers.    Their  wonder- 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  53 

ful  delicacy,  agreeable  hues,  and  pure 
fragrance,  never  cease  to  make  silent 
appeals  to  our  senses.  And  this  arrange- 
ment of  one  class  of  flowers  following 
another  through  the  varied  seasons,  shows 
the  wisdom  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  in 
adapting  these  external  sources  of  beauty 
to  the  human  mind. 

Let  us  now  talk  about  the  early  spring 
flowers.  Which  is  the  earliest,  Sarah, 
and  what  would  you  call  it  ? 

"  The  snowdrop.  I  think  it  might 
be  called  the  harbinger  of  spring.  Its 
sentiment  is  consolation" 

Yes,  the  snowdrop  appears  long  before 
the  trees  unfold  their  leaves.  It  comes 
up  through  the  frosty  ground,  clothed  in 
its  pure  white  robe.  The  crocus  is  next 
in  order,  and  peeps  out  from  the  ground 
as  though  it  would  cautiously  face  the 
howling  winds. 

"  That  is  called  cheerfulness"  said 
Charlotte. 


54  THE  LILY  AMON<3-  FLOWERS. 

I  think  the  poet  has  well  expressed  itg 
character  in  verse : 

"Life's  sky,  though  clothed  with  tempest  clouds, 

Grows  bright  when  thou  art  nigh  ; 
And  tears  e'er  turn  to  smiles  beneath 
Thine  angel-gifted  eye." 

II  Here,"   said    Mary,    "  is  a  violet. 
What  a  pretty,  humble  flower  this  is !    I 
think  humility  would  be  a  very  appro- 
priate sentiment." 

Mrs.  Lnnclor  calls  it  modesty.  It  13 
emblematic,  indeed,  of  modest  virtue,, 
which  seeks  to  administer  comfort,  rather 
than  to  win  admiration. 

Humility,  Mary,  is  a  shining  virtue  ; 
it  is  so  intimately  connected  with  a  meek 
and  quiet  spirit,  that  it  may  be  said  to 
be  of  great  price.  True  humility  is  not 
meanness,  ncrr  cowardice,  nor  a  want  of 
just  self-esteem.  It  is  to  have  a  right 
view  of  ourselves,  just  as  we  are.  IIu- 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  55 

milifcy  is  a  very  bright  ornament  in  the 
Christian  character. 

"  Here  is  a  spring  flower,"  said  James, 
"  with  a  great  many  colors,  but  I  do  not 
know  what  it  means." 

"0,  that  is  the  auricula-scarlet,"  re- 
plied Charlotte  ;  "that  means  that  wealth 
is  not  happiness.  How  prettily  it  is 
dressed !  A  crystal  eye,  satin  gown,  and 
silver  powdered." 

But  how  soon  it  will  be  gone  !  These 
flowers,  which  appear  early  in  the  spring, 
last  but  a  short  time.  They  leave  us 
about  the  time  the  tulips  begin  to  bud 
upon  their  stately  stalks.  If  you  exam- 
ine alt  of  them,  you  will  find  them  of 
very  delicate  texture,  possessing  beau- 
teous colors.  They  teach  us  that  "fairest 
flowers  fade  the  soonest,"  and  that  they 
require  very  careful  attention  when  they 
are  taken  up  and  transplanted  to  the  gar- 
den. 

I  will  here  tell  you  something  about 
5* 


56 


THE  LILY 


FLOWERS. 


Chavlcs  Linnaeus,  who  was  very  fond  of 
plants  and  flowers,  and  hence  the  boys 
used  to  call  him  Charley  Lily.  And 
when  quite  a  lad,  he  would  go  out  into 
the  fields,  and  gather  flowers  and  plants 
by  the  basketful,  and  bring  them  home, 


in  order  to  study  their  properties.     By 
this  means  he  became  quite  familiar  with 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  57 

botany  when  very  young  ;  and  here  was 
laid  the  foundation  of  his  extensive 
knowledge,  which  distinguished  him  in 
later  years.  His  father  made  the  works 
of  nature  a  great  study,  and  became  the 
author  of  new  classifications  in  the  three 
principal  vegetable  kingdoms.  After  his 
death,  about  three  thousand  letters  were 
found  among  his  papers,  from  celebrated 
persons,  expressing  their  admiration  of  his 
theory  of  vegetation.  The  most  brilliant 
period  of  his  life  was  spent  at  Upsal,  in 
Sweden,  where,  amid  the  beauties  of  one 
of  the  most  flourishing  gardens  in  Europe, 
he  used  to  deliver  lectures  on  botany, 
natural  history,  the  medicinal  virtues  of 
plants,  and  nosology. 

"  Nosology,  —  what  does  that  mean  ? " 
asked  William. 

It  means  a  systematic  arrangement  or 
classification  of  diseases.  One  who 
arranges  diseases  in  order,  and  gives 


58  THE  LILY  AMONft  FLOWERS. 

them  suitable  names,  is  called  a  nosolo- 
gist. 

At  one  time  Mr.  Linnaeus  had  under 
his  care  about  two  hundred  pupils.  In 
the  summer  season  he  and  his  pupils 
would  go  out  to  explore  the  country ; 
and,  as  they  scattered  in  small  parties, 
looking  in  different  directions  for  plants, 
when  any  one  discovered  a  rare  plant,  or 
natural  curiosity,  a  signal  was  given,  by 
the  blowing  of  a  horn,  when  the  whole 
company  would  assemble,  to  hear  the 
remarks  made  by  their  teacher.  On  their 
return  home,  they  adorned  their  hats 
with  flowers,  and  marched  to  the  sound 
of  their  musical  instruments.  By  this 
means  of  imparting  instruction,  a  vast 
number  of  young  men  added  to  their 
stock  of  knowledge,  and  were  preserved 
from  the  haunts  of  vice  and  folly. 

He  also  formed  his  theory  on  the  sleep 
of  plants,  and  proved  that  they  slept  at 
regular  intervals,  like  animals. 


THE  LILY  AMONG   FLOWERS.  59 

"Do  plants  sleep?"  inquired  little 
Anna. 

0,  yes,  Anna.  All  the  works  of  na- 
ture have  their  time  for  quiet  repose. 
What  I  now  tell  you  will  show  that  God 
has  made  the  outer  covering  of  these 
flowers  for  a  wise  purpose. 

I  told  you  that  Limucus  was  much 
engaged  in  the  productions  of  the  earth. 
The  first  Royal  Museum  was  established 
by  him,  in  Sweden;  and  when  there  was 
any  remarkable  curiosity  discovered  in 
the  king's  dominions,  he  sent  it  to  Lin- 
nscus,  for  him  to  describe.  lie  had  sent 
him  the  seed  of  the  lotus,  from  Montpe- 
lier.  lie  planted  it  in  the  garden,  where 
it  bore  two  flowers.  He  was  much  de- 
lighted with  them,  and  requested  the 
gardener  to  give  special  attention  to 
them.  After  two  days,  on  his  returning 
home,  late  in  the  evening,  he  went  into 
the  garden  to  look  at  them,  but  they 
were  not  to  be  found.  He  went  again 


60  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

the  next  night,  and  they  were  still  invis- 
ible. But  the  next  morning  they  appeared 
as  usual ;  but  the  gardener  thought  they 
•were  fresh  ones,  as  there  was  not  any  to 
be  found  the  evening  before.  Linnaeus 
pondered  over  the  circumstance,  and  went 
again  the  same  evening,  hoping  to  solve 
the  mystery.  They  had  again  vanished, 
and  he  continued  searching,  and  at  last 
found  them 'closely  folded  up,  and  their 
leaves  contracted  over  them.  This  awak- 
ened a  new  train  of  ideas  in  his  mind ; 
so  he  takes  his  lantern,  and  goes  out  in 
the  night  in  the  garden  and  hot-houses. 
There  he  finds  the  whole  vegetable  crea- 
tion in  a  dormant  state.  The  flowers 
were  concealed  under  their  leaves,  and 
they  had  all  the  appearance  of  being 
asleep.  This  led  him  to  introduce  the 
theory  of  the  sleep  of  plants.  From  this 
discovery  he  formed  a  vegetable  clock, 
wherein  the  hours  of  the  day  were  marked 
by  the  different  periods  at  which  certain 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  61 

flowers  began  to  close  their  blossoms ; 
and  in  the  same  manner  he  framed  a 
rural  calendar,  for  the  regulation  of  the 
labors  of  the  husbandman,  according  to 
the  appearance  of  the  blossoms  of  plants 
at  stated  intervals. 

But  Linnoeus  was  all  this  time  strug- 
gling with  poverty.  Many  had  the  priv- 
ilege of  ministering  to  his  wants,  by 
giving  him  food  and  clothes.  lie  would 
mend  his  old  shoes  with  strong,  thick 
paper,  and  stitch  the  soles  with  thread 
formed  of  the  tough  inner  bark  of  the 
trees.  But  he  struggled  through  all  his 
disadvantages,  till  he  finally  secured  the 
office  of  a  professor  of  natural  history. 

I  will  now  tell  you  something  of  his 
early  life,  in  which  you  will  see  the  ori- 
gin of  his  eminence  as  a  student  of  the 
works  of  nature. 

He  was  born  at  Rashult,  a  small  village 
in  the  province  of  Smaland,  on  the  13th 
of  May,  1707.  His  ancestors  were  peas- 


62  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

« 
« 

ants ;  they  afterwards  left  their  primitive 
occupation  of  farming,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  changed  their  name.  It  was  a  cus- 
tom in  Sweden  to  take  names  from  some 
natural  object ;  so  they  took  the  name 
of  Linddhis  Tiliandcr  (which  means, 
linden-tree  man),  from  a  lofty  linden 
tree,  which  stood  in  the  vicinity  of  their 
native  place.  Charles'  father  was  the 
pastor  of  the  village,  and,  being  very 
fond  of  gardening,  his  son  became  much 
interested  in  plants  and  flowers.  He  had 
the  advantage  of  a  very  extensive  and 
good  garden  annexed  to  the  house,  which 
he  soon  made  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
whole  district.  He  planted  in  it  over  four 
hundred  different  species  of  flowers,  many 
of  which  he  procured  from  foreign  coun- 
tries, and  were  considered  very  valuable. 
When  Charles  was  eight  years  of  age, 
his  father  gave  him  a  separate  spot  of 
ground, and  called  it "  Charles'  Garden." 
Out  he  went  into  the  woods  and  mead- 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 


C3 


ows,  and  gathered  plants  and  flowers, 
wild  herbs  and  weeds,  and  covered  over 
the  whole  patch  of  land  ;  but,  not  being 
BO  well  acquainted  with  gardening,  ho 
was  often  compelled  to  call  the  aid  of 
his  father  in  his  work.  The  first  turn  of 


his  mind  towards  the  works  of  nature  was 
decidedly  manifest  when  he  was  about 
four  years  old.  He  went  out  with  his 
father  to  a  feast,  at  Mohlem,  in  the  even- 
ing, it  being  a  pleasant  season  of  the 
year ;  the  guests  seated  themselves 
G 


04  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

around,  on  the  flowery  turf,  when  his 
father  made  some  remarks  on  the  various 
plants  and  roots,  calling  them  by  name. 
Charles  paid  great  attention  to  what  his 
father  said,  and,  from  that  time,  he  would 
constantly  tease  his  father  about  the 
nature  and  names  of  every  plant  and 
flower  he  saw.  But,  being  very  young, 
he  was  unable  to  remember  the  names, 
and  his  father  had  to  tell  him  over  and 
over  again.  At  last,  when  he  told  him 
the  name  of  any  plant  or  flower,  he  made 
him  promise  that  he  would  try  to  remem- 
ber. By  this  means,  Charles  soon  learned 
the  names  of  plants  ;  and,  by  remember- 
ing what  his  father  told  him,  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  great  eminence. 

To  remember  what  is  useful  is  neces- 
sary to  a  well-furnished  mind.  Now, 
children,  if  you  begin  early  to  remember 
what  you  may  hear  and  learn,  that  is 
useful,  it  will  be  of  great  advantage  to 
you  in  your  riper  years. 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  65 

Now  let  us  see  who  of  you  can  remem- 
ber what  we  were  talking  about,  when 
I  began  to  tell  you  the  story  of  Charles. 

"You  were  telling  us,"  said  James, 
"about  the  early  spring  flowers;  and 
when  they  left  us,  that  others  appeared." 

Yes,  I  was  showing  the  wisdom  of 
God,  in  adorning  the  earth  by  a  regular 
succession  of  flowers,  through  the  differ- 
ent seasons  of  the  year. 

The  polyanthus  and  the  tulip  begin  to 
blossom  about  the  time  those  I  have  men- 
tioned begin  to  fade.  The  anemone  is 
another  delicate  flower,  which  soon  fol- 
lows them.  It  has  a  beautiful  dome  on 
its  top,  and  a  spreading  robe  at  its  base. 
With  its  gentle  bending  tuft  and  flowing 
mantle,  it  displays  the  nicest  symmetry. 
When  it  is  exposed  to  the  sun,  its  green 
leaves  gradually  turn  to  a  golden  lustre. 

"I  have  heard  it  called,"  said  Char- 
lotte, "the  fine  gentleman  of  the  gar- 
den." 


66  THE  LILY  AMONQ*  FLOWERS. 

It  is  so  called  by  a  celebrated  florist, 
because  it  has  the  address  of  uniting  sim- 
plicity with  refinement,  and  reconciling 
art  with  ease. 

In  the  same  month  appears  the  ranun- 
culus. It  has  a  very  graceful  form,  arid 
is  clothed  in  rich  foliage.  By  degrees 
it  acquires  a  beautiful  enamel,  which  is 
the  finishing  touch  of  nature's  pencil.  It 
is  one  of  those  flowers  which  gradually 
improve,  till  they  have  attained  their  per- 
fection. So  all  of  us  may  improve  our 
advantages,  in  the  acquisition  of  knowl- 
edge and  true  piety. 

The  carnation  is  a  flower  of  a  very 
pleasant  odor,  and  combines  all  the  per- 
fections of  the  early  ones,  and  answers 
as  a  substitute  for  them,  when  they  have 
disappeared. 

"  That  flower,"  said  Mary,  "  signifies 
pride  and  beauty.  I  suppose  it  is  so 
called  from  its  stately  appearance  and 
variegated  colors." 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  67 

The ''gillyflower  appears  late  in  the 
season.  This  survives  all  changes  of  the 
weather,  and  lives  in  the  garden  as  a 
permanent  occupant,  and  not,  like  others, 
as  mere  visitors.  Charlotte  calls  this 
flower,  "bonds  of  affection ;"  but  fidelity 
and  friendship  are  terms  equally  as  ap- 
propriate. The  former  term  means  a 
careful  observance  of  duty,  and  the  lat- 
ter, true  friendship,  which  is  founded  in 
mutual  love.  Then,  if  you  are  true 
friends  to  each  other,  you  will  be  kind, 
and  ready  to  assist  each  other  in  the  time 
of  need.  You  will  repose  confidence  in 
each  other.  The  Saviour  said  to  his  dis- 
ciples, "I  have  called  you  friends."  He 
honored  them  with  his  confidence,  his 
heart  was  open  to  them  all.  He  was  a 
real  friend  to  them.  He  gave  them  re- 
proof and  counsel,  and  manifested  a  warm 
sympathy  for  them  in  their  trials,  which 
is  a  test  of  true  friendship. 

"I  think,"  said  Charlotte,  "if  there 
6* 


C8  THE  LILY  AMONJJ   FLOWERS. 

was  more  of  such  friendship  in  the  world, 
it  would  be  much  better  than  it  is." 

Well,  we  must  all  do  our  part  in  this 
matter,  by  cultivating  that  friendship 
which  is  founded  on  right  principle. 
Now,  if  you,  children,  start  in  life  aright, 
you  will  be  useful  and  happy.  You  will 
be  friends  to  others,  and  that  will  be  one 
means  of  making  friends  to  yourselves. 

Let  me  tell  the  story  of  Harriet  and 
her  umbrella,  which  will  illustrate  the 
happiness  we  may  derive  in  making  our- 
selves useful  to  others. 

When  Harriet  B set  out  for 

school,  the  sun  shone  brightly  ;  but  be- 
fore she  had  gone  far,  it  began  to  rain 
fast.  She  opened  the  umbrella,  and 
hurried  on. 

"  Please,  miss,"  said  a  voice  behind 
her,  "let  me  walk  under  your  umbrella." 
Harriet  started,  and,  turning  round,  saw 
a  little  girl  about  as  tall  as  herself,  shab- 
bily dressed,  and  having  on  her  head  a 


THE  LILY  AMONG   FLOWERS.  69 

faded  bonnet.  Harriet  hesitated,  as  she 
was  just  turning  from  Fourth-street^ 
when  she  expected  to  meet  several  of 
her  schoolmates,  and  she  felt  that  she 
should  not  like  to  be  seen  walking  with 
such  a  companion.  But,  on  reflection, 
she  said,  "  Now,  if  I  can  do  a  little  kind- 
ness, no  matter  if  the  girls  do  laugh.  I 
am  not  doing  wrong." 

The  poor  girl  was  waiting  for  an  an- 
swer. Harriet  immediately  bid  her  come 
close  under  her  umbrella,  that  she  might 
be  entirely  shielded  from  the  rain. 

"  Thank  you,  miss,"  said  the  little 
girl.  Harriet  was  glad  that  she  had  not 
refused  the  poor  child's  request.  They 
walked  on  together,  side  by  side,  while 
Harriet  was  enjoying  the  pleasing  reflec- 
tion that  she  was  preventing  her  little 
companion  from  spoiling  her  bonnet 
They  had  walked  as  far  as  Sixth-street, 
when  the  little  girl  pointed  up,  and 
said,  "  I  have  got  an  errand  to  do  at 


70  THE  LILY  AMON£  FLOWERS. 

that  store.  I  can  go  there  quick,  and 
wait  till  it  stops  raining.  Good-by,  miss ; 
thank  you  very  much." 

Harriet  insisted  on  going  with  her  to 
the  door,  because  her  motive  in  letting 
the  poor  girl  come  under  the  umbrella 
was  to  secure  the  faded  bonnet  from 
getting  wet.  So  Harriet  accompanied 
her  little  companion  to  the  store,  and 
saw  her  safe  inside.  She  then  turned, 
and  pursued  her  way  to  the  school, — 
happy,  because  she  had  done  right ;  and 
better,  because  she  had  made  an  effort  to 
strengthen  the  good  principle  in  her 
mind. 

"If,"  said  she,  "I  have  saved  that 
little  girl  from  a  scolding,  or  her  mother 
from  fretting  about  the  bonnet,  I  have 
taken  one  bit  from  the  heap  of  misery 
to-day." 

This  act  will  illustrate  the  true  princi- 
ples which  we  should  always  remember. 
//  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive. 


THE  LILY"  AMONG   FLOWERS.  71 

Do  unto  others  as  you  would  that  others 
should  do  unto  you. 

There  is  a  way  for  all  of  us  to  make 
ourselves  useful.  And  there  is  satisfac- 
tion in  being  able  to  do  a  small  act  of 
kindness,  wjien  we  may  not  have  the 
means  of  doing  a  great  one. 

"  And  where  there  is  a  will,"  said 
Mary,  "  there  is  always  a  way." 

Certainly  ;  and  what  is  most  needed 
in  performing  Christian  duties  is  the  will. 
There  are  always  opportunities. 

Mr.  Newton  divided  the  world  into 
two  heaps,  of  human  happiness  and  mis- 
ery. He  says:  "  If  I  can  take  the 
smallest  bit  from  one  heap,  and  add  to 
the  other,  I  carry  a  point.  If,  as  I  go 
home,  a  child  has  dropped  a  half-penny, 
and  if,  by  giving  it  another,  I  can  wipe 
away  its  tears,  I  feel  that  I  have  done 
something." 

Now,  any  person  may  be  willing  to  do 
a  small  act  of  kindness,  where  there  is 


72  THE  LILY  AMONa  FLOWERS. 

not  much  trouble  or  expense  attending 
it.  But  we  must  be  ready  to  do  a  greater 
one,  when  the  circumstances  demand  it, 
with  as  much  cheerfulness.  Principle  is 
important  in  the  act  of  doing  good. 
This  is  what  made  the  widow's  mite  a 
valuable  offering,  which  she  so  readily 
cast  into  the  treasury.  By  cultivating 
the  spirit  of  true  friendship  and  benevo- 
lence in  small  things,  it  will  aid  us  in 
performing  the  duties  of  charity,  as  every 
day  requires. 

As  it  is  time  for  us  to  be  going  home, 
I  will  repeat  a  very  excellent  poem, 
which  expresses  the  spirit  of  true  friend- 
ship, and  which  you  may  wish  to  learn 
at  some  leisure  time.  Then  we  will 
part,  and  at  our  next  meeting  renew  our 
subject. 

FRIENDSHIP. 

Have  we  friends  that  will  love  us,  when  tho  nighfc 

cometh  on, 
When  prosperity's  sun  has  all  faded  and  gone, 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  73 

Who  will  shield  us  from  slander,  when  riches  take 

wing? 
If  so,  we  are  happy ;  to  such  let  us  cling. 

When  our  spirits  are  sad,  and  we  're  weary  of  earth, 
Have  we  those  who  will   cheer  us  with   innocent 

mirth? 
Who  will  bid  us  rejoice,  and  some  sweet  song  will 

sing  ? 
If  so,  we  are  happy ;  to  such  let  us  cling. 

Have  we  those  who  through  sickness  will  watch  by 

our  bed, 
When  the  gay,  glowing  visions  of  earth  shall  havo 

fled? 
Who  across  our  dark  pathway  some  bright  ray  will 

fling  ? 
If  so,  we  are  happy ;  to  such  let  us  cling. 

And  oh!  when  we've  passed  to  that  bright,  happy 

land, 
Have  we  those  who  will  sigh,  as  we  're  missed  from 

their  band  ? 
And  the  flowers  we  have  loved  to  our  graves  will 

they  bring? 
If  so,  we  are  happy ;  to  such  let  us  cling. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

AT  our  last  meeting,  we  noticed  tho 
regular  succession  of  flowers;  and  I 
think  we  saw  sufficient  evidence  of  tho 
divine  goodness,  in  giving  to  us  a  pleas- 
ant abode,  by  wisely  arranging  its  orna- 
mental costume.  Now,  in  every  month 
we  see  new  beauties  in  the  floral  world. 
If  all  the  flowers  blossomed  and  decayed 
together,  there  would  be  a  sameness  in 
the  scenery  of  the  earth,  and  at  once  a 
total  privation  of  what  is  now  a  pleasing 
variety.  But,  as  the  arrangement  now 
is,  the  scenery  of  nature  is  constantly 
diversified,  and  our  summer  paths  inces- 
santly strewed  with  flowers. 

"  There  is  much  instruction,"  said 
Mary,  "to  be  derived  from  flowers;  and 
I  think  I  shall  gather  them  with  very 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  75 

different  feelings  from  what  I  have  been 
accustomed  to  cherish." 

Yes,  Mary,  if  we  cherish  and  culti- 
vate right  feelings,  in  our  contempla- 
tions of  God's  works,  we  shall  derive 
instruction  from  the  flowers  of  the  field, 
as  well  as  from  every  part  of  his  creation. 

Some  people  go  out  among  their  na- 
tive hills  to  gather  flowers,  and  there 
contrast  their  colors,  inhale  their  sweet- 
ness, and  form  them  into  bouquets,  to 
distribute  among  their  friends,  or  for 
some  festive  occasion,  or  to  fade  and  die 
in  the  vase,  without  any  reference  to  the 
lessons  they  impart.  But  when  we  look 
through  them  up  to  the  source  of  all 
purity  and  goodness,  we  shall  read  their 
simple  language  with  profit,  and  aim  to 
cultivate  their  silent  graces  ;  for 

"  There 's  not  a  plant  or  flower  below 
But  makes  God's  glories  known." 

There  b  no  scene  more  beautiful  than 

7 


76 


THE  LILY  AMON»  FLOWERS. 


to  see  children  learning  about  God. 
You  may  go  out  into  the  fields,  and, 
under  the  shady  trees,  sit  on  the  green 
banks,  by  the  flowing  stream,  and  there 
derive  much  instruction  from  the  lovely 
scenes  of  nature.  Every  flower,  plant 
and  tree,  teaches  us  something  of  the  wis- 
dom of  the  great  Creator.  How  happy 


must  those  children  be  who  live  in  the 
country,    and    around   whose    dwellings 


THE  LILT  AMONG  FLOWERS.  77 

there  are  so  many  advantages  for  moral 
and  religious  improvement. 

"I  know,"  said  Charlotte,  "that 
many  persons  cultivate  flowers,  merely 
because  they  like  to  see  them." 

I  have  somewhere  read  of  an  eccen- 
tric man,  who  cultivated  a  garden  of 
flowers  and  plants,  which  the  neighbors 
caUed  "The  Enchanted  Forest  of  the 
Poet."  It  was  filled  with  every  variety 
of  the  fairest  and  choicest  flowers  he 
could  select.  Yet,  there  were  those  of 
the  hardy  class,  discolored,  unsightly, 
and  without  fragrance.  But  they  had 
their  place  in  his  garden,  with  the  choic- 
est plants  and  the  most  delicate  blos- 
soms. And  the  sun  shone  on  them,  and 
the  dew  sparkled  on  their  leaves  with  as 
bright  a  lustre  as  on  the  honey-flower, 
the  jasmine,  or  the  bridal  rose.  He  was 
asked  why  he  cultivated  them,  to  which 
he  replied,  "  They  are  flowers,  and  God 
made  them." 


&  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

He  was  accustomed  to  give  to  many 
of  his  flowers  the  names  of  persons  whom 
he  thought  or  fancied  they  resembled,  — 
that  is,  he  called  certain  persons  by  the 
names  which  his  flowers  bore.  For  ex- 
ample :  when  he  became  acquainted  with 
individuals,  and  learned  their  natural 
temperament,  or  discovered  the  general 
turn  of  their  mind,  he  would  call  them 
by  the  name  of  a  flower.  If  they  were 
cheerful,  he  would  give  to  them  the 
name  of  crocus;  and  to  one  who  possessed 
a  tranquil  mind,  he  would  give  the 
name  of  lemon.  But  he  said  that  he 
could  rarely  find  one  whose  qualities,  in 
every  respect,  would  answer  to  the  white 
lily.  This  is  a  very  sweet  and  graceful 
flower,  which  lifts  its  head  in  modest 
dignity,  yet  in  conscious  purity,  looking 
towards  heaven,  and  commands  the  ad- 
miration of  every  lover  of  virtue  and 
purity. 

There  was  one  person,  of  whom  he 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  79 

thought  the  white  lily  was  a  fit  emblem. 
Her  manners  were  graceful  and  digni- 
fied, and  her  spirit  gentle  and  pure  ;  and 
when  the  lady  died  and  was  buried,  it  is 
said  our  friend  followed  her  to  the  grave, 
and  deposited  in  it  the  white  lily,  with 
its  pure,  rich  petals  broken  and  crushed. 
He  said  that  he  always  considered  that 
flower  a  beautiful  emblem  of  pure  affec- 
tion. 

In  another  part  of  his  garden  grew  the 
"  Lily  of  the  Valley."  Its  pure,  white, 
bell-shaped  flowers  cling  to  a  slender 
stalk,  and  are  enclosed  under  the  broad 
green  leaves.  It  grows  best  in  low 
lands,  —  in  moist  and  shady  ground. 
This  flower  he  did  not  appropriate  to 
any  individual ;  and  when  asked  if  he 
had  any  correspondence  for  the  emblem 
in  human  life,  replied :  "  There  is  one 
who  hath  said,  '  I  am  the  Lily  of  the 
Valley.' "  He  regarded  that  flower  as  a 
true  type  of  the  Saviour's  own  purity. 
7* 


80  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

"  The  lily  which  we  gather  from  the 
lowlands,"  said  Sarah,  "begins  to  droop 
almost  as  soon  as  it  is  separated  from  its 
roots.  Its  fragrance  is  soon  gone,  and 
its  pure  white  leaves  lose  their  freshness 
and  beauty." 

Yes,  the  lily  fades,  and  becomes  a 
striking  emblem  of  mortality ;  and,  ac- 
cording to  my  promise,  I  will  now  tell 
you  something  about  the  lilies  that  have 
faded  and  gone.  There  are  many  fami- 
lies who  have  missed  some  of  the  lilies  in 
their  gardens.  In  the  Scriptures,  chil- 
dren are  called  "olive  plants"  around 
the  domestic  table  ;  but  they  sometimes 
droop  and  die,  and  leave  the  family  cir- 
cle bereft  of  its  bright  little  ornaments. 
And  there  is  no  scene  more  affecting  to 
the  family  survivors  than  to  see  the 
vacant  seat  around  their  table.  Good 
children  are  parents'  choicest  jewels ; 
and,  even  when  there  are  a  large  num- 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 


81 


ber  in  a  family,  not  one  can  be  spared 
without  prolonged  grief. 

A  venerable  minister,  who  had  a  large 
family  of  children,  was  asked  by  a  friend 
which  of  them  he  could  spare  best.  He 
replied,  as  he  looked  around  upon  them 
all,  "Not  one.  This,"  putting  his  hand 
upon  the  eldest,  "is  our  first  born.  The 


second  has  some  excellent  qualities,  and 
I  hope  will  be  useful  in  the  world.     The 


82  THE  LILY  AMONG,  FLOWERS. 

third  is  the  image  of  his  mother,  and  the 
next  is  a  playful  little  daughter ;  and 
this,"  taking  the  little  babe  in  his  arms, 
"is  our  little  pet." 

Good  children  are  sources  of  enjoy- 
ment to  their  parents,  when  they  are 
kind,  affectionate,  and  obedient ;  but  the 
joy  of  parents  is  often  turned  to  sorrow, 
when  He  who  takes  but  what  he  gives 
comes  into  the  garden  of  our  households, 
to  gather  lilies,  that  he  may  transplant 
them  in  a  better  soil. 

"I  have  seen,"  said  little  Anna,  "a 
number  of  little  graves  in  the  church- 
yard, which  were  shorter  than  I." 

Yes,  and  the  graves  of  little  children 
generally  attract  the  notice  of  strangers. 
In  the  summer  of  1845  I  went  with  a 
friend  to  visit  the  Greenwood  Cemetery, 
which  is  situated  about  three  miles  from 
Brooklyn,  New  York.  We  first  visited 
the  spot  where  poor  McDonald  Clarke 
was  buried.  Over  his  remains  was  erected 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  83 

a  simple  monument,  on  which  was  en- 
graved the  epitaph  that  was  composed 
by  himself : 

"  Let  silence  gaze,  but  curse  not  his  grave." 

The  other  lines,  directly  under  the 
above,  express  the  feelings  of  his  friends 
towards  one  who  had  been  unfortunate  in 
life. 

"  By  Friendship's  -willing  hand  erected, 
By  Genius,  Taste,  and  Art  adorned ; 
For  one  too  long  in  life  neglected, 
But  now  in  death  sincerely  mourned." 

We  did  not  stop  here  but  a  short  time, 
but  hastened  to  a  distant  part  of  the 
cemetery,  which  was  selected  for  graves. 
Those  who  are  buried  there  are  of  all 
ages,  from  the  child  of  the  cradle  up  to 
the  aged  sire.  I  noticed  quite  a  number 
of  the  little  white  stones  that  were  erected 
in  memory  of  dear  little  children  ;  and, 
from  their  ages,  knew  that  Death  had 


84  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

entered  many  household  gardens,  and 
taken  away  some  of  the  youngest  of  the 
flowers.  I  kneeled  down  on  the  grass, 
and,  with  a  pencil,  wrote  several  names 
of  the  children  in  a  book,  with  the  lines 
which  were  engraved  on  the  stones,  as 
mementoes  of  parental  affection.  One 
was  a  little  girl,  aged  two  years,  by  the 
name  of  Cornelia  P.  Copeland. 

Sweet  bud  of  being,  for  a  moment  given, 
To  show  how  pure  young  spirits  are  in  heaven ; 
Then  snatched,  in  love,  from  all  the  woes  of  earth, 
Not  dead,  but  wakened  to  a  nobler  birth. 

Very  near  this,  was  another  faded 
flower.  Its  name  was  Francis  A.  Page, 
aged  three  years  and  two  months. 

This  lovely  bud,  so  young 

Called  hence  by  early  doom, 
Just  came  to  show  how  sweet  a  flower 

In  paradise  would  bloom. 

In  the  same  row  of  stones  was  one 
erected  to  the  memory  of  a  little  girl, 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  85 

aged  four  years,  by  the  name  of  Emma 
Hodgkins.  The  lines  engraved  upon  her 
stone  are  the  sentiments  of  another. 

"Lay  her  in  the  earth,  and  from  her  fair  and  unpol- 
luted flesh  may  violets  spring." 

A  short  distance  from  this  I  noticed 
the  name  of  Sophia,  aged  seven  months, 
with  the  impressive  words  of  the  Saviour, 

"  Of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 

This  brought  to  my  mind  that  ancient 
scene  recorded  by  the  evangelist,  when 
the  children,  not  being  old  enough  to 
come  by  choice,  were  brought  by  their 
parents  to  the  Saviour,  that  he  might 
bless  them.  The  disciples  rebuked  them, 
but  Jesus  said,  "  Suffer  little  children  to 
come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for 
of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven;" — 
meaning  that  they  should  be  brought  to 
him,  as  lovely  and  amiable,  uncorrupted 
by  the  sins  of  the  world,  and  having 


86  THE  LILY  AMONQ  FLOWERS. 

those  traits  of  mind  which  would  give 
them  a  place  in  his  kingdom. 

As  I  walked  a  little  further,  I  saw 
another  stone  at  the  head  of  a  little  grave, 
much  shorter  than  the  rest,  containing 
the  name  of  the  child  only.  I  turned 
away  from  that  garden  of  lilies,  with  the 
thought  that  when  our  Heavenly  Father 
removes  a  lily  from  among  the  flowers  of 
our  household  gardens, 

"Earth  hath  one  mortal  less, 
Heaven  has  one  angel  more." 

There  are  several  records  of  early  death 
which  occur  to  me,  and  may  not  be  out 
of  place  in  this  little  wreath  of  faded 
lilies.  Catherine  Frances  Johnson  was 
but  four  years  old  when  her  parents  were 
called  to  part  with  her.  She  was  bora 
in  Medfield,  and  on  her  tombstone  are 
these  words : 

The  bud,  within  its  honeyed  cup, 
Exposed  so  fair  a  blossom, 


THE  LILY  AMONG   FLOWERS.  87 

The  Saviour  kindly  took  it  up, 
And  put  it  in  his  bosom. 

George  Emerson,  a  lovely  babe,  and 
the  youngest  child  of  John  and  Sarah  P. 
Smith,  died  in  Medway,  a  short  time 
since,  and  the  parents  laid  it  away  in  the 
silent  grave. 

"  0,  weep  not  for  the  early  dead, 

The  gentle  and  the  fair, 
Who  to  the  peaceful  grave  have  gone, 

"With  hearts  untouched  by  care. 
When  scarce  their  eyes  had  learned  to  weep, 

They  sought  a  brighter  home, 
Where  sorrow  finds  no  willing  place, 

And  tears  are  never  known." 

Elizabeth  M.  Peck  was  a  member  of 
a  Sabbath-school  in  Shelburne  Falls. 
There  she  received  instructions  from  her 
teacher  which  we  have  reason  to  hope 
were  blessed  to  her,  and  prepared  her  to 
praise  the  Saviour  while  she  lived,  and 
when  dying  to  say,  "Lord  Jesus,  quickly 
come." 

8 


88  THE  LILY  AMONG1,  FLOWERS. 

"  The  fairest  flower  on  earth  must  fade, 

Whatever  be  its  hue  ; 
'T  will  sparkle  but  a  little  while, 
Then  waste  like  morning  dew. 

"  This  lovely  bud  was  opening  fast, 

But,  in  its  early  bloom, 
Death  severed  it  from  off  its  stem, 
And  laid  it  in  the  tomb." 

In  the  town  of  Franklindale,  a  little 
flower,  only  one  year  and  eight  months 
old,  was  planted  in  the  burial  garden ; 
—  Sarah  Ann  Judson,  the  only  daughter 
of  a  clergyman.  But  she  is 

"  Not  lost !   I  cannot  say  farewell, 

Though  dust  to  dust  be  given  ; 
Thy  smile  seems  lingering  on  me  still, 

Yet  touched  with  light  from  heaven; 
Thy  voice  steals  o'er  me,  but  no  tone 

Of  grief  is  in  the  strain  ; 
I  weep,  yet  would  not  call  thee  back 

To  earth's  dim  scenes  again." 

Charles  Edward,  a  twin  child  of  dear 
parents,  was  separated  from  his  little 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  89 

mate.  Both  saw  the  light  together,  and 
were  tenderly  cherished  by  a  kind  mother. 
Death  came  and  blighted  this  little  bud, 
but  one  year  old.  The  lines  which  fol- 
low are  very  appropriate. 

"  Two  flowers  were  blooming  by  each  other's  side, 

Alike  in  beauty,  fragrance,  strength  and  days ; 
A  hand  from  heaven  came  gently,  and  untied 

The  thread  that  held  them  like  a  gem  of  rays : 
To  brighter  gardens  one's  fair  petals  bore, 
But  left  its  twin  in  beauty,  as  before." 

Emily  Francis,  at  the  early  age  of 
eight  years,  became  a  child  of  God,  and 
from  that  time  she  manifested  her  love 
for  religious  instruction.  Eleven  months 
before  she  died,  she  professed  her  faith 
in  the  Saviour  ;  and  when  the  church  in 
Conway  was  called  to  part  with  this 
flower,  so'  early  planted  in  their  garden, 
they  felt  that  it  would  flourish  in  a  more 
congenial  soil  in  heaven.  At  twelve 
years  of  age,  in  life's  bright  morning, 


90  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

with  a  spirit  of  cheerful  resignation  to 
God,  she  bade  her  friends  and  the  scenes 
of  life  farewell. 

I  will  tell  you  of  another  little  flower, 
planted  in  a  grove  of  Gangua  trees,  —  a 
beautiful  retired  spot, — in  the  distant 
land  of  Burmah :  Sarah  Ann  Board- 
man,  the  "  rosy  little  daughter"  of  Mrs. 
Sarah  B.  Judson.  She  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years  and  eight  months.  She 
was  a  bright  and  lovely  child,  with  blue 
eyes,  yellow  hair,  and  rosy  cheeks.  She 
could  speak  the  English  and  Burmese 
languages  very  well  for  so  young  a  child. 
She  learned  the  Lord's  prayer  and  sev- 
eral little  hymns,  and  would  chant,  for  a 
half  an  hour  at  a  time,  Dr.  Judson's  lines 
on  the  death  of  a  Burmese.  A  few 
hours  before  she  died,  she  kissed  her 
dear  parents,  and  put  her  little  hand  over 
their  faces.  Her  eyes  grew  dim,  and 
she  could  not  see  them  distinctly,  and, 
for  a  moment  or  two,  her  mind  seemed 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  91 

to  be  wandering  ;  then,  looking  anxious- 
ly into  her  mother's  face,  she  said,  "I 
frightened,  mamma  !  I  frightened  !  " 
After  her  mother  dressed  this  little  child, 
and  laid  her  in  the  coffin,  her  dear  father 
offered  a  prayer,  and  then  they  carried 
the  body  away,  and  laid  it  in  the  new- 
made  grave,  a  short  distance  from  the 
house,  among  the  Gangua  trees.  Near 
it  is  a  little  Bethel,  erected  for  private 
devotions.  "  Thither,"  says  the  mother, 
"we  often  repair,  and  we  trust  that  God, 
who,  in  his  infinite  wisdom,  has  taken 
our  treasure  to  himself,  often  meets  us 
there." 

"  Thou  art  a  sweet  and  fragrant  flower, 

Mid  poisonous,  vile  weeds  blooming ; 
A  lovely  star,  whose  cheering  power 
Makes  glad  the  heavy-footed  hour, 
When  midnight  clouds  are  glooming." 

This  same  mother  was  called  soon  after 
to  part  with  a  dear  little  boy,  who  was 


92  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS 

buried  in  the  mission  burial  ground,  in 
Calcutta,  where  rest  the  remains  of  three 
missionaries,  Gary,  Marshman  and  Ward. 
He  was  laid  in  the  grave  at  evening,  and 
is  remembered  as  the  "  little  Henry  of 
Serampore." 

Have  you  ever  visited  the  cemetery 
at  Mount  Auburn  ?  If  not,  go  and  see 
that  beautiful  spot.  There  rest  the 
small  and  the  great,  and  there  may  be 
seen  mementoes  of  the  wise  and  the  good. 
As  you  walk  through  "Elder  Path,"  you 
will  see  the  monument  of  "Frankie." 
His  little  form  is  beautifully  chiselled  by 
the  sculptor,  and  is  represented  as  sleep- 
ing sweetly  in  the  arms  of  death. 

LITTLE  FRANKIE. 

One  little  bud  adorned  my  bower, 

And  shed  sweet  fragrance  round ; 
It  grew  in  beauty,  hour  by  hour, 
Till,  ah !  the  spoiler  came  in  power, 
And  crushed  it  to  the  ground. 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.  93 

Yet  not  forever  in  the  dust 

That  beauteous  bud  shall  lie ; 
No !  —  in  the  garden  of  the  just, 
Beneath  God's  glorious  eye,  I  trust, 
'T  will  bloom  again  on  high.  c.  s. 

The  following  lines  were  written  by  a 
friend,  and  were  suggested  by  the  death 
of  a  little  girl  named  Ursula  Bean,  of 
Worcester : 

"  Sweet  bud  of  earth,  though  brightly  thou 

Hast  bloomed  amid  the  flowers  here, 
We  would  not  mourn,  since  thou  hast  gone 

To  flourish  in  a  brighter  sphere. 
A  few  short  months,  and  with  this  flower 

A  sister  plant  in  beauty  bloomed ; 
But  death  has  laid  them  side  by  side, 

Within  the  cold  and  narrow  tomb. 
But  they  have  found  a  richer  soil, 

A  brighter  sun,  a  sweeter  sky ; 
And  though  the  parent  stalks  are  rent, 

Yet  for  these  flowers  'tis  gain  to  die." 

I  well  remember  of  reading  an  account 
of  an  estimable  lady,  who,  at  the  death 
of  her  husband,  had  two  little  boys  left 


94  THE  LILY  AMONfl  FLOWERS. 

for  her  comfort.  By  a  sudden  accident, 
one  of  them  was  soon  taken  from  her ; 
yet  she  was  happy  in  the  reflection  that 
she  had  one  more  left.  Soon  afterwards 
this  one  fell  into  the  water,  and  the 
intelligence,  when  brought  to  her,  that 
he  was  drowned,  led  her  to  say,  "  I  see 
that  my  Father  in  heaven  would  have 
all  my  heart."  It  was  a  deep  affliction, 
but  it  was  the  means  of  leading  the  fond 
mother  to  place  her  affections  on  Him 
who  takes  but  what  he  gives. 

You  may  have  read  of  the  "two  lovely 
sisters,"  Margaret  and  Henrietta  Flower, 
who,  lovely  in  their  lives,  were  scarcely 
divided  in  their  deaths.  Henrietta  died 
at  the  early  age  of  eleven  years ;  and 
her  fragile  sister,  a  bud  of  promise,  not 
destined  to  be  nurtured  here,  soon  fol- 
lowed her,  at  the  age  of  thirteen.  For 
them,  says  the  biographer,  had  been  one 
cradle,  one  fireside,  "one  Lord,  one 
faith,  one  baptism."  They  sleep  in  the 


THE  LILY  AMONG   FLOWERS.  95 

church-yard  of  their  native  village,  in 
one  grave,  to  await  the  resurrection. 
The  person  who  sketched  the  portraits 
of  these  two  lilies  says  : 

"  The  small  enclosure,  which  is  sacred 
to  their  ashes,  is  adorned  with  shrubbery, 
flowers,  and  trees  of  unfading  verdure. 
Two  evergreens,  gifts  to  them  in  their 
happy  childhood,  which  bore  their  re- 
spective names,  and  grew  in  their  own 
little  garden,  have  been  transplanted  to 
their  grave.  There  they  stretch  forth 
their  vigorous  arms,  like  tried  and  affec- 
tionate sentinels.  In  the  boughs  of  one 
of  them,  a  bird,  for  successive  seasons, 
built  its  nest  and  reared  its  young." 

There  was  an  interesting  trait  in  their 
character,  which  we  could  wish  to  see 
among  all  children.  They  were  exceed- 
ingly fond  of  each  other's  society.  If 
they  were  absent  from  each  other  a 
longer  time  than  usual,  they  felt  not  at 
home.  They  were  not  made  to  be  sep- 


96  THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

arated  from  each  other.  One  fell  asleep 
in  Jesus  but  a  short  time  before  the  other 
sank  away  in  the  same  bed  of  repose. 
They  are  now  united  with  the  innumera- 
ble company  of  angels,  and  the  spirits 
of  the  just  made  perfect. 

In  a  distant  land,  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  Seine,  is  a  region  of  country  distin- 
guished for  its  fine  orchards  and  vine- 
yards, its  fragrant  meadow  lands  and 
fertile  hills.  To  the  north  of  this  is  a 
deep  forest,  which  extends  for  several 
miles  over  a  space  of  country,  most 
beautifully  diversified  with  hills  and 
vales,  waterfalls  and  natural  bowers. 
In  that  forest  is  a  small  village,  the 
dwellings  of  which  have  thatched  roofs,. 
rural  porches,  and  blooming  flower-gar- 
dens. The  author  of  "Little  Henry 
and  his  Bearer"  gives  us  an  account  of 
some  of  the  scenes  connected  with  his 
parish  ;  and  tells  us,  that  in  that  village 
rest  the  remains  of  little  Aimee  —  a 
favorite  lily  among  flowers.  I  will  re- 


THE  LILY  AMONG   FLOWERS.  97 

late  the  substance  of  an  interesting  scene 
connected  with  this  little  girl. 

There  was  to  be  a  feast  of  flowers, 
which  is  customary  in  that  part  of  the 
country ;  and  it  was  arranged  by  Aimee's 
teacher  to  have  the  pupils  of  her  school 
all  be  present.  The  teacher  took  little 
Aimee  by  the  hand,  who  was  dressed  in 
white,  having  no  other  head-dress  save 
the  clustering  ringlets  which  hung  loose- 
ly around  her  neck.  In  her  hand  was  a 
•wreath  of  lilies,  tied  together  by  her- 
'self,  with  a  ribbon,  to  be  fastened  on  her 
right  shoulder.  On  the  occasion  of  this 
feast  of  flowers,  was  to  be  presented  by 
the  Barrone  a  crown  to  one  of  the  people. 
The  crown  was  an  imitation  of  myrtle  ; 
the  leaves  being  formed  of  foil,  the  flow- 
ers of  gold  and  "mother-of-pearl,"  and 
the  berries  of  coral.  It  was  handsomely 
executed,  and  the  motto  was  wrought  on 
a  blue  ribbon,  in  golden  letters,  twisted 
into  a  wreath. 


THE  LILT  AMONG  FLOWERS.  99 

The  crown  was  to  be  given  to  her 
who  had  selected  the  most  becoming 
ornament ;  and,  in  giving  it,  the  lady  to 
whom  the  office  was  assigned,  was  to 
depend  on  the  motto,  which  she  now 
proceeded  to  read  in  a  clear  and  distinct 
voice.  The  motto  is  this :  "  Whose 
adorning,  let  it  not  be  that  outward 
adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair,  and  of 
wearing  of  gold,  or  of  putting  on  of 
(needless)  apparel;  but  let  it  be  the 
ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit, 
W -which  is,  in  the  sight  of  God,  of  great 
price."  The  Barrone  then,  turning  her 
eyes  to  little  Aimee,  said:  "The  lily 
of  the  valley  is  the  acknowledged  em- 
blem of  humility.  It  conceals  its  beau- 
ties within  its  verdant  covering.  It  is 
spotless,  pure,  and  fragrant.  Its  leaves 
have  a  cool  and  healing  influence,  and  it 
loves  retirement  and  shade.  The  lily, 
therefore,!  must  consider  the  best-chosen 
ornament  for  a  youthful  female." 
9 


100         THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

There  was  a  burst  of  applause  from 
the  whole  circle  of  pupils,  and  they 
seemed  to  forget  themselves,  as  they 
fixed  their  smiling  eyes  on  the  little  girl 
to  whom  the  crown  had  been  awarded. 
Little  Aimee  then  came  forward,  at  the 
request  of  the  lady ;  and,  falling  on  one 
knee,  raised  her  eyes,  and  in  a  low 
voice  said:  "Ah!  lady,  could  I  wear 
that  crown,  I  should  prove  to  all  here 
assembled  that  I  am  undeserving  it.  I 
desire  to  be  pure  as  the  lily,  but,  dear 
lady,  put  not  the  crown  upon  my  head." 
There  was  profound  silence  in  the  whole 
assembly.  The  lady,  still  holding  the 
myrtle  wreath  over  Aimee's  head,  said  : 
"  You  must  submit  to  wear  the  crown 
you  have  justly  merited." 

"Ah  !  no,"  replied  Aimee  ;  and,  gen- 
tly removing  the  garland  of  lilies  from 
her  shoulders,  and  laying  it  on  the  grass, 
said :  "  Please,  lady,  place  the  crown 
upon  the  garland,  and  I  will  endeavor  to 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.         101 

merit  them  both  —  if  not  in  life,  per- 
haps in  death." 

This  act  of  Aimee's  led  them  all  to 
see  that  true  humility  was  not  a  plant 
of  earthly  growth.  Both  the  crown  and 
the  garland  were  taken  up,  and  laid  in 
the  chapel ;  and  it  was  a  long  time 
before  the  impressive  scene  in  the  ex- 
ample of  Aimee  was  effaced  from .  the 
youthful  circle. 

This  lily  of  the  vale  was  of  short  dura- 
tion. Just  as  the  spring  flowers  began 
to  adorn  the  earth,  little  Aimee  fell  a 
victim  to  disease,  and  about  the  close  of 
May  she  died.  When  she  was  buried, 
the  crown  which  she  so  humbly  refused, 
together  with  the  garland  of  lilies,  which 
she  wore  indicative  of  her  meek  and 
quiet  spirit,  were  laid  on  her  coffin. 
Her  young  mates,  with  a  numerous  as- 
sembly, came  to  take  the  last  look  of 
Aimee ;  and,  as  they  looked  upon  her 
who  was  now  about  to  be  carried  to  her 


102         THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

resting-place  in  the  tomb,  the  tear  of 
affection  fell  from  their  eyes.  They 
loved  her  for  her  virtues.  In  the  assem- 
bly was  a  poor  woman  to  whom  Aimee 
was,  ofttimes,  a  ministering  angel ;  as 
she  looked  in  the  coffin,  she  exclaimed  : 
"  Blessed  little  lamb  !  Sweet  lily  of  the 
vale  !  "Who  shall  fill  the  place  thou  hast 
left?" 

The  tolling  bell  now  gave  the  signal 
for  the  funeral  procession  to  pass  to  the 
grave.  The  coffin  was  covered  with  a 
white  pall,  and  before  it  stood,  in  a 
semi-circle,  all  her  loved  companions. 
Sad  hour  to  them !  but  their  loss  was 
her  gain,  believing  she  had  gone  where 
no  garland  of  roses,  or  gaudy  attire,  is 
needed  to  adorn  the  person.  On  the 
white  pall  lay  the  faded  wreath,  which 
the  little  hands  of  Aimee,  now  cold  and 
motionless,  had  prepared  for  the  occa- 
sion of  festal  flowers.  And,  when  the 
last  note  of  the  requiem  was  dying 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.         103 

away,  and  the  deep-toned  organ  of  the 
church  was  uttering  its  last  solemn 
sound,  the  myrtle  crown  was  then  laid 
on  the  garland  of  lilies,  emblem  of  that 
crown  of  glory  which  little  Aimee  hoped 
to  wear  in  heaven.  Then  came  the 
pupils  of  the  school,  and,  bending  over 
the  pall,  kissed  it,  as  their  last  token  of 
affection  for  this  "Lily  among  Flowers." 
In  closing  this  little  volume,  I  would 
ask  the  attention  of  my  young  readers  to 
the  importance  of  cultivating  those  prin- 
ciples in  early  life  which  form  the  basis 
of  true  living.  As  lilies  fade  and  die, 
so  will  it  be  with  us.  We  have  seen 
that  "  Death  has  all  seasons  for  its  own ;" 
that  the  earliest  spring  flowers  shoot 
forth,  and  to-day  expand  in  all  their 
bloom  and  beauty,  and  to-morrow  are 
gone.  But  while  there  is  a  beauty  and 
sweetness  in  the  drooping  lily  and  fading 
flower,  there  is  also  a  heavenly  calmness 
in  the  countenance  of  those  children 
9* 


104         THE  LILY  AMONG   FLOWERS. 

who,  by  a  living  faith  and  obedient  life, 
secure  to  themselves  the  blessing  of  God 
here,  and  hereafter  a  home  in  heaven 

"  Go  thou,  in  life's  fair  morning, 

Go  in  thy  bloom  of  youth, 
And  buy,  for  thine  adorning, 
The  precious  pearl  of  truth." 

There  are  a  great  many  pearls,  gems, 
and  beautiful  things,  which  attract  the 
attention  of  children,  and  which  are 
prized  as  very  precious.  But  there  are 
no  jewels  more  precious  than  those  which 
we  may  call  "  Christian  virtues."  The 
possession  of  these  will  be  of  greater 
value  to  you  than  earthly  gems  or  costly 
pearls.  I  once  heard  of  a  little  girl  by 
the  name  of  Rhoda,  in  whose  every-day 
life  there  was  such  a  true  consistency  of 
character,  that  she  attracted  the  notice  of 
the  lady  in  fiishionable  life  with  whom 
she  resided,  and  on  whose  mind  little 
Rhoda' s  meek  and  quiet  spirit  made  a 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.         105 

lasting  impression.  One  day,  as  the 
lady's  husband  returned  from  business, 
he  discovered  an  unusual  expression  of 
thoiightfulness  upon  her  countenance, 
and  inquired  the  cause,  as  he  thought 
that  possibly  something  might  be  wrong 
in  her  domestic  affairs,  or  that  she  might 
have  met  with  some  disappointment  by 
friends,  in  the  circle  of  her  acquaintance. 
He  inquired  if  there  was  any  article 
wanted  in  the  family  which  he  had  not 
obtained,  or  if  there  was  any  negligence 
on  his  part  towards  her.  To  which  she 
promptly  replied,  No.  He  then  asked 
her  if  she  needed  any  particular  dress. 
"0,  yes,"  she  replied,  "I  want  the 
garment  which  little  Rhoda  wears  every 
day."  That  garment  is  one  which  will 
never  fade  and  grow  dim  by  use.  It  is 
the  garment  of  righteousness.  Rhoda 
was  obedient,  and  devoted  to  the  duties 
which  every  day  required ;  and  per- 
formed them  with  such  a  pleasant  and 


106         THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

Christian  spirit,  that  she  grew  in  favor 
with  her  mistress,  and  enjoyed  the  ap- 
probation of  God.  She  was  an  example 
to  others,  respected  and  admired  by  all 
those  who  love  goodness. 

That  is  the  highest  adorning  which  a 
young  person  can  have,  that  consists  of 
a  pure  and  lovely  spirit.  If  you  possess 
this  spirit,  and,  in  the  duties  of  every 
day,  evince  it,  by  a  well-regulated  de- 
meanor, you  will  not  fail  to  exert  a 
happy  influence  upon  those  with  whom 
you  associate. 

As  I  tell  you  the  story  of  Little  Emma 
and  her  brother,  you  will  see  how  sweetly 
a  child  may  trust  in  God,  and  even  im- 
part consolation  to  an  afflicted  mother. 

In  the  house  of  widow  B ,  and  on 

the  sofa  which  stood  in  the  centre  of  the 
parlor  floor,  lay  the  little  pale  form  of 
Emma,  clothed  in  a  white  dress.  That 
form  looked  more  like  a  sleeping  cherub 
than  a  mortal  body.  A  little  bunch  of 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.         107 

flowers  was  placed  in  its  right  hand,  and 
over  its  forehead  lay  the  parted  locks  of 
her  auburn  hair,  which  was  separated  by 
a  mother's  hand.  Near  the  sofa  stood 
the  mother  and  her  little  boy. 

Charles  wept  bitterly,  for  he  dearly 
loved  his  sister.  She  was  his  only  play- 
mate and  companion.  Death  was  to  him 
a  sort  of  mystery,  though  he  had  been 
taught  that  "  mortality  must  be  swal- 
lowed up  in  life."  He  touched  her 
hand,  but  she  did  not  move ;  he  kissed 
her  cheek,  but  it  was  as  cold  as  marble  ; 
he  called  her  name,  but  she  answered 
not.  He  thought  of  the  pleasant  hours 
they  had  spent  together  in  the  garden, 
and  the  rambles  they  had  enjoyed  in 
gathering  flowers  from  the  fields.  As  he 
looked  upon  his  little  sister's  form,  he 
said  to  himself,  "  We  shall  no  more  play 
together,"  and  his  heart  burst  with  grief. 

His  mother,  who  stood  near  him,  spoke 
to  him  of  another  life,  of  a  home  in 


108         THE  LILY   AMONG  FLOWERS. 

heaven,  where  sickness  and  death  cannot 
enter,  to  mar  the  happiness,  or  separate 
loving,  affectionate,  and  good  children. 
She  told  him  that  Emma  was  not  dead, 
but  living  among  the  pure  in  the  heavenly 
paradise.  Charles  wiped  the  tears  from 
his  eyes,  for  he  believed  the  words  of 
his  mother ;  and  he  consoled  himself 
with  the  reflection  that,  if  he  was  as  good 
as  Emma,  he  should  live  with  her  in 
heaven.  And,  turning  to  his  mother,  he 
said,  "  I  shall  see  little  Emma  when  I 
die,  if  I  live  a  very  good  boy." 

When  the  hour  arrived  for  the  burial 
of  the  corpse,  the  friends  and  relatives 
assembled ;  and  when  the  prayer  was 
offered,  nothing  remained  but  to  deposit 
the  little  form  of  Emma  in  the  grave. 
This  was  a  trying  hour.  The  mother 
looked  once  more  upon  her  little  daugh- 
ter, pressed  her  cold  lips,  which  she  had 
so  often  nourished,  and  she  wept.  Yes, 
the  fountain  of  her  soul  gave  way. 


THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS.         109 

Though  her  faith  was  unshaken,  and  her 
hope  like  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  yet  she 
could  not  refrain  from  bursting  into  a 
flood  of  tears. 

Charles  sat  all  the  time  on  the  sofa, 
leaning  his  head  upon  his  hand,  as  though 
he  were  communing  with  the  departed 
spirit  of  his  sister.  His  tears  had  been 
dried  up  by  the  words  of  his  mother, 
who  had  comforted  him  with  the  joyous 
reflection  that,  "if  he  was  a  good  boy, 
he  would  meet  his  sister  with  the  pure  in 
heaven." 

As  he  saw  his  mother  weeping  over 
the  coffin,  he  rose  from  his  seat  and  went 
to  her,  but  she  took  no  notice  of  him  for 
a  few  moments.  He  pulled  her  dress 
gently,  and  said,  "  Mother,  I  wish  to 
speak  to  you.  I  must  speak  with  you, 
mother."  She  stooped  down  to  hear 
what  he  had  to  say,  and  he  whispered 
these  words:  "Mother,  why  do  you 


110         THE  LILY  AMONG  FLOWERS. 

mourn  so,  when  you  will  see  little  Emma 

•        ft  1 1 

again  : 

Here,  children,  is  manifested  the  trust- 
ing faith  of  a  little  child, — one  who  had 
been  taught  the  ways  of  true  wisdom, 
and  in  whose  heart  had  been  planted  the 
germ  of  living  faith,  in  the  promise  of 
Jesus,  who  said  to  his  disciples,  "Where 
I  am,  there  shall  ye  be  also." 


END. 


